The Israeli Knesset has formally approved a bill to cut electricity and water services to the offices of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, bringing the law into immediate effect.
اضافة اعلان
According to Israeli Army Radio, the Knesset passed the bill in its second and third readings with 59 out of 120 members voting in favor, while seven opposed it. A bill must pass three readings in the Knesset to become law.
The Knesset initially approved the bill in November and referred it to the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee for preparation for the second and third readings.
During the voting session, Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen defended the decision, claiming that UNRWA “serves as a fertile ground for incitement and killing” and arguing that the agency should not continue to exist.
UNRWA provides services to more than 110,000 refugees in Jerusalem, operating two refugee camps—Shuafat and Qalandiya—and managing institutions such as the Indian Corner Clinic near Bab Al-Sahira, as well as boys’ and girls’ schools in Jerusalem, Sur Baher, and the aforementioned camps.
The Knesset’s decision to restrict UNRWA’s operations constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, norms, and agreements, and contradicts UN General Assembly resolutions—particularly Resolution 302, which established UNRWA in 1949 in response to the Palestinian refugee crisis. This represents an international obligation following the failure to implement UN Security Council Resolution 194, which guarantees the refugees’ right of return.
