Egypt: Arab League condemns Israeli laws banning UNRWA
A meeting of the Council of the Arab League strongly condemned the recent laws passed by the Israeli Knesset to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The meeting, held in Cairo at the level of permanent representatives, was convened to discuss the necessary steps to rally international support to counter the dangerous and unlawful laws enacted by the Knesset regarding the prohibition of UNRWA activities and the denial of diplomatic privileges and immunities granted to UN organisations for its staff.
The statement from the Arab League Council called on the international community to continue providing the political and financial support essential for UNRWA to carry out its mandated role in its five areas of operation.
The Council emphasised that this role remains indispensable and cannot be replaced until the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the borders of 1967, as part of a two-state solution in line with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which also includes the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees.
The Council deemed these laws a blatant violation of international law and Israel’s obligations as an occupying power in Palestinian territories, as stipulated by international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the United Nations Charter.
These provisions require states to respect the rights of international organisations, ensuring their independence and freedom to carry out their activities.
The Council tasked Arab League missions and Arab ambassadorial councils in friendly countries with rallying international support to counter Israel’s aggressive measures aimed at cancelling Palestinian refugees' rights and halting UNRWA’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The Council called on these states to press Israel, as the occupying power, to repeal these laws or face consequences for proceeding with their implementation.