Jerusalem refugees reject plan to replace UNRWA with Israel services

Palestinian refugees are continuing protests against the replacement of UNRWA services in occupied Jerusalem with that of the Israeli municipality in the city.

Last month, Israeli Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, announced that he plans to remove the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees from occupied East Jerusalem, accusing it of “operating illegally and promoting incitement against Israel”.

Protests have been ongoing for ten days and began after Barkat stormed the Shuafat refugee camp, bringing with him municipality workers who have since been providing street sweeping services in an effort to replace UNRWA workers.

“UNRWA has started implementing new projects to improve the environment in the refugee camp that continue until 2020,” activist Muhannad Ghanayim told the Palestinian news website.

Read: Closing UNRWA will not alter Israel’s role in creating Palestine refugees

Palestinian activist Khader Al-Dibbis said that the retention of the protests “proves that the UNRWA is the main representative of the Palestinian refugees, not the Israeli occupation.”

UNRWA was created by the UN in 1949 to offer assistance to the Palestinian refugees who were forcibly expelled from their homes to make way for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.

UNRWA’s lifeline is decreasing due to the cuts made by the Trump administration – Cartoon [AlArabi21News/Twitter]