Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on a draft legislation that could stop UNRWA operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The European Union expresses its grave concern about the draft bill on UNRWA currently discussed in the Israeli parliament. The EU strongly supports the UN Secretary General's call on the matter and shares the concern that this draft bill, if adopted, would have disastrous consequences, preventing the UN Agency from continuing to provide its services and protection to Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

The final adoption of the bill would abrogate the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA, stop all UNRWA's operations in Israel and East Jerusalem, destroy UNRWA's life-saving operations in Gaza, seriously hamper provision of health, education and social services in the West Bank, and revoke UNRWA's diplomatic privileges and immunities.

The EU urges the Israeli authorities to ensure that UNRWA is allowed to continue carrying out its crucial work in line with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly. UNRWA provides essential services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and is a pillar of regional stability. It also plays a fundamental role in ensuring the conditions on the ground for a credible pathway towards the Two-State solution.

The EU is a firm supporter of the United Nations and the multilateral and rules-based global governance system of which UNRWA, as a UN agency, is a part. The EU is committed to continuing its support to the Agency, and closely monitors the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report and further decisive action by the UN to ensure neutrality, accountability and strengthen control and oversight over the operations of the Agency.