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Preferential Treatment for Palestinians

(Ynet News) Yoni Dayan - The international community has two refugee agencies: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a special organization tasked with caring only for Palestinians. The UNHCR, which cares for 33.9 million refugees in more than 125 countries, has a budget of $3 billion. UNRWA, which cares for the 5 million descendents of Palestinian refugees, has a budget of over $1 billion. Per person, that is $88.50 for each refugee around the world, and $200 for each Palestinian. UNRWA upholds two policies that have swollen Palestinian refugee population size. Palestinians, unlike any other refugee population in the world, pass on their refugee status from generation to generation. Palestinians, unlike any other refugee population in the world, maintain their refugee status even when gaining citizenship in another country. Former Knesset member Dr. Einat Wilf has proposed that UNRWA be dismantled and integrated into the UNHCR, and that there should be no such thing as a refugee with citizenship or a third-generation refugee. The UNRWA budget for the West Bank should be turned over to the Palestinian Authority, which should take over administration of educational and medical facilities.
2013-05-31 00:00:00
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