On Thursday 31 October, the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, warned of the consequences of the Israeli Knesset’s adoption of laws banning the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as the UN agency’s contacts with the Israeli authorities.
“The EU condemns any attempt to abrogate the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA or to otherwise attempt to obstruct its capacity to operate its mandate”, said Mr Borrell in a statement on behalf of the EU.
According to him, if the laws are implemented, they will have “far-reaching consequences”: they will end UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank, de facto prevent its vital operations in Gaza and revoke the agency’s diplomatic privileges and immunities in Israel.
Mr Borrell warned that the EU was determined to continue its support for the Office. “As long as there is no sustainable solution to the conflict, the mandate of UNRWA will remain vital”, he explained.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/e4b (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)