Washington is once again siding with Jerusalem in its efforts to compel the United Nations to subject the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to tighter scrutiny.
Next week, a committee named by the UN General Assembly is set to begin discussions on the renewal of UNRWA's mandate. The move traditionally garners an automatic majority, which prevents the agency's shuttering. This year, Israel and the United States have partnered to make the UN increase its oversight of the agency, which is grossly anti-Israel.
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The Trump administration has been pushing for reforms in UNRWA and has even sanctioned the agency over its failed financial practices, withholding over $100 million in funding.
In preliminary discussions between the Israeli and US missions to the UN, and with the support of several other countries, it was decided to present the General Assembly with two demands: The first – cutting UNRWA's mandate short, so that it is renewed annually rather than every three years; and the second, compelling UNRWA to increase its financial transparency.
These demands are posed against the backdrop of recent allegations that the agency's actions are tainted by corruption.
The Israeli Mission to the United Nations hopes that the power the US wields in the international body, as well as the growing demand by donor states to know exactly what their money is used for, will lead the UNRWA to instate a much-needed reform.
Israeli Ambassador to UN Danny Danon issued a statement saying "UNRWA is a burden to the international community. It utilizes the world's funds for the dissemination of false narratives against Israel and systematically avoids fulfilling the mission for which it was established. Until such time as UNRWA is permanently closed, we will use all tools at our disposal to increase the oversight to which it is subjected."
