The Indonesian government strongly condemns the decision by Israel’s parliament (Knesset) to ban UNRW activities in Israel, which has resulted in the disruption of UNRW’s operation in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
“This [Knesset] decision clearly violates and contradicts the UN Charter and the 1946 Convention on the immunities of UN agencies.” the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in its X account on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
UNWRA is an agency mandated by United Nations to serve an irreplaceable role in providing education, healthcare , and aid to million of Palestinian refugees. Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting UNRWA in discharging its mandate .
Indonesia urges the international community, especially the UN Security Council , to immediately halt Israel’s action and ensure its compliance with obligations under international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and ICJ rulings to end the occupation in Palestine.
As reported by Jerusalem Post, the Knesset plenum approved final voting for two bills aimed at blocking the activity in areas under Israeli control of the UN Relief and Works Agency, which services Palestinian refugees in east Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein presented both bills in the plenum. According to Edelstein, UNRWA’s operations “eternalized” the issue of Palestinian refugees.
In addition, Edelstein cited the fact that UNRWA employees had participated in, and even served as commanders, in the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre. Edelstein also mentioned incitement in UNRWA school curriculums. According to Edelstein, the time had come to ban the agency from Israel.
Edelstein did not address in his speech who would replace the services UNRWA provides for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.
After the bills passed, Edelstein called the bills “historic” and the “elimination of one of the arms of terror that acted under UN auspices.”
“UNRWA long ago ceased to be a humanitarian aid agency, but in addition to it being an integral supporter of terror and hate, is an agency to eternalize poverty and suffering. The rationale is simple – in order to survive, UNRWA created demand for the product it provides. The circle of horror ended today, they are out!” Edelstein concluded.
The two bills are an amalgamation of five bills that were proposed by a large number of members of Knesset, from both the coalition and opposition, indicating broad support.
The first bill states that UNRWA will no longer “operate any institution, provide any service, or conduct any activity, whether directly or indirectly,” in Israel.
