The secretary-general of the United Nations on Sunday called on countries to continue funding the main agency providing aid in Gaza after several of its employees were accused of taking part in the Hamas attack on Israel that ignited the war four months ago.
The UN only has itself to blame. The involvement of UNRWA staff with the Hamas attacks may be the catalyst, but there has been numerous scandals over the last decade ranging from UNRWA teachers promoting Jew hatred in schools, to anti-semitic textbooks to teaching kids how to kill Jews etc. this is not a case of a few bad apples, but a culture that has been allowed to flourish for years.
And every time these issues have been raised, the UN did nothing but deny and dissemble. They had the chance to sort them out, but didn't.
We should join Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and US and cease funding an organisation that is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
The funding should be transferred from UNRWA to agencies that actually have a history of neutrality such as the red cross. We should definitely fund relief for those in the Palestinian Territories – but not through UNRWA.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
And every time these issues have been raised, the UN did nothing but deny and dissemble. They had the chance to sort them out, but didn't.
We should join Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and US and cease funding an organisation that is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
The funding should be transferred from UNRWA to agencies that actually have a history of neutrality such as the red cross. We should definitely fund relief for those in the Palestinian Territories – but not through UNRWA.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
7 comments:
UNRWA is the largest organisation in Gaza providing humanitarian aid. From all accounts it does good work in trying circumstances here and elsewhere for Palestinians. No organisation is perfect.
In the fog of war I trust the UN Secretary-General far more than officials of countries who are showing little regard for the welfare of ordinary Palestinian people.
New Zealand should not be dissuaded from funding it without far better reasons.
Anonymous @ 3.08pm, Please define the reasons why you would trust the UN and particularly the Secretary General over officials of other countries and of paramount importance New Zealand taxpayers ?
BW: In part I feel that I'd already addressed your question in my 3:08pm comments. Anyway, I'm pleased to read that the NZ government isn't making a hasty decision but instead waiting for the outcome of a full investigation by the UN.
As for why NZ taxpayers should contribute at all? From purely self-interest, NZ as a trading nation benefits from a peaceful world. Some taxpayers may also believe it is a moral obligation for NZ as an 'international citizen'; I include myself in that camp.
UNWRA's poor behaviour and support for terrorism has been an open secret for many years and it is about time that it got castrated.
You said NZ should be halting funding to the UNWRA. The EU is reviewing this situation but not halting funding, which is responsible. So on the ground in Gaza how do you think this will this help Palestinians? Surely your plan could not be to worsen the already dire straits of Palestinians?
Israel accused about 13 members of UNWRA of being part of the attack on October 7th. If these accusations are true (these accusations are as yet unproven) this is 1% of the 1300 people who work for UNWRA.
Israeli politicians have a disagreeable and unfortunate history of blackening the name of any organization or person which reveals undesirable truths about their governance by calling all organizations anti-semite who report anything they don't approve about Gaza. The UN is doing vital work in Gaza.
It is very risky and irresponsible to disable funding to such a vital organization in Gaza based on these accusations. Obviously it is important to find out the truth and act accordingly. But you putting at increased risk the lives of Palestinian children, babies and women is just devastating.
Anonymous @10.40, Maybe research this current issue a little without digressing to what has been going on for seemingly forever . The women ,children and others at the Israel music festival gathering / concert were mercilessly attacked killed, raped and abused without provocation from the concert . Always two sides and a dreadful outcome is inevitable .
BW: You are I think making the proposition that a desire to support civilian Palestinians in Gaza (and elsewhere) implies condoning the 7 October attack by Hamas. I refute that proposition entirely. I am pleased to read that our present government doesn't appear to subscribe to it either.
Fortunately we have international organisations such as the UN and international law that endeavors to help people caught up in these sort of horrors. Regretfully, it is human nature to be susceptible to demonising whole populations in times of conflict.
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