“Is there an alternative to UNRWA?” This question, raised at the start of the debate by Hildegard Bentele (EPP, German) in the European Parliament, was the focus of discussions on Monday 17 March between the UN agency’s Commissioner-General , Philippe Lazzarini, and MEPs from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Committee on Development (DEVE).
With UNRWA facing increasing restrictions from Israel and accusations of links to Hamas, the question of its necessity has divided...