Israel asks UNRWA to expand its humanitarian program

[Behind the Aegis]

Israel has asked the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees to expand its humanitarian program in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, setting aside criticism of the organization it accused of siding with militants.

Israel's request to UNRWA could see the agency assisting Palestinians who are not refugees, Israeli officials and UN diplomats said.

"In the past, we have had serious concerns about patterns of behavior within UNRWA," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said in reference to past Israeli charges that UNRWA employed Hamas members and provided assistance to militants.

Israel looked into the possibility of phasing out the agency's operations in Gaza as recently as last year when Israel pulled out of the Strip, sources close to the government said

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[barb162]

1. Some of the talkbacks are very interesting , as is the article

Israel asked the UNRWA to help "...setting aside criticism of the organization it accused of siding with militants."

[anitar1]

2. Could be for food aid, as I read recently that Israel

is not allowing Palestinian farmers to sell their crops and they have had to dump rotting produce near the border.Very sad as this is one more step toward starving them.Also insures that farmers will not have the money to plant crops again.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Then you know little about the situation. n/t