Dr. Martin Sherman March 2008 “The Refugees” The Tale of Two Organizations UNRWA vs. UNHCR.

Dr. Martin ShermanDr. Martin Sherman March 2008March 2008

“The Refugees”

The Tale of Two Organizations

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Jaffa - on Opening page of the

UNRWA W

ebsite

http://www.un.org/unrwa/48Commem/index.html

“I had hoped that the horror stories of Jenin were exaggerated… but I am afraid these were not exaggerated and that Jenin camp residents lived through a human catastrophe that have few parallels in recent history ”

Statement by Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, 18 April 2002 .

Perpetuating the Narrative of “Return”

Propagating Enmity towards Israel

Organizational Parameters

The UNRWA Anomaly

The Ramifications

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

• Definition of “Refugee”

• Staffing Policy• Mandate

• Allocation of Resources• Links to Terror

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Unrwa.gif

UNRWA מול UNHCR

UNRWA any person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict. Palestine refugees eligible for UNRWA assistance, are mainly persons who fulfill the above definition and descendants of fathers fulfilling the definition.

UNHCR A person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.

UNRWA vs. UNHCR Definition: Who Is a “Refugee”?


Definition: Who Is a “Refugee”?

UNRWA מול UNHCR

According to the UNHCR Definition, the Number of Refugees Declines over TimeDeclines over Time

According to the UNRWA Definition, the Number of Refugees Balloons over TimeBalloons over Time

UNRWA vs. UNHCR


The Mandate: The Nature of Operations

UNRWA מול UNHCR

UNRWA is only responsible for providing services to one group of one group of refugees, the Palestine refugeesrefugees, the Palestine refugees, in its areas of operation. UNHCR is responsible for refugees worldwide. UNRWA is mandated to provide the mandated to provide the Palestine refugees with humanitarian assistancePalestine refugees with humanitarian assistance…UNRWA has a unique unique rolerole as it is the only UN agency that reports directly to the UN General Assembly, and whose beneficiary population stems from one nation-whose beneficiary population stems from one nation-group.group.

UNHCR has the mandate to provide international protection to [all] refugees who fall within the scope of its Statute and to seek permanentpermanent solutions for the problem of refugees by assisting Governments.

UNRWA vs. UNHCR


UNRWA מול UNHCR

Such choices are not feasible in the Palestinian contextnot feasible in the Palestinian context, since the first two first two options are unacceptable to the refugeesoptions are unacceptable to the refugees and their host countries, while the third is consistently rejected by the State of Israel… any one of these options must be accepted voluntarily by the refugees under UNHCR ’s care, a principle shared by UNRWA’s mandate.

Gina Benevento Chief, UNRWA Public, Information Office, Gaza City

UNRWA mandate [is] strictly limited to the delivery of humanitarian serviceshumanitarian services, and then moved progressively into basic and preparatory education, and health and relief assistance… Issues such as the promotion of resettlementresettlement and the resolution of the refugee problem clearly do not fall within this do not fall within this mandatemandate; they are political rather than humanitarian they are political rather than humanitarian

Gina Benevento, Chief, UNRWA Public, Information Office Gaza City

UNHCR is mandated to offer refugees three options: Local integrationLocal integration, resettlement in third countriesresettlement in third countries, or return to their home countriesreturn to their home countries .

Gina Benevento, Chief, UNRWA Public, Information Office, Gaza City

UNRWA vs. UNHCR The Mandate: The Nature of Operations


UNRWA מול UNHCR

PALESTINIAN MOB ATTACKS POLLSTER By JAMES BENNET

Published: July 14, 2003

A mob attacked an eminent Palestinian political scientist today as he prepared to announce a striking finding from a regionwide survey of Palestinian refugees: Only a small minority of them would exercise a Only a small minority of them would exercise a ''right of return'' to Israel as part of a peace agreement.''right of return'' to Israel as part of a peace agreement. In a broad, detailed survey, Dr. Shikaki's researchers questioned 4,500 refugee families living in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan and Lebanon…Only 10 percent demanded permanent residence in Israel, a proportion that decreased if the refugees were told that they would have to take Israeli citizenship or that their old homes were gone.

Dr. Shikaki said the poll's results showed that refugees were less less interested in being nationalist standard-bearersinterested in being nationalist standard-bearers than in living fuller lives. ''Refugees are human beings with needs,''''Refugees are human beings with needs,'' he said. ''These people ''These people want to live their lives.want to live their lives.

UNRWA vs. UNHCR The Mandate: The Nature of Operations

http://www.nytimes.com/

UNRWA מול UNHCR

UNRWA employs some 24,324 staff, of whom more than 99 per cent are locally-recruited Palestinians, almost all of them Palestine refugees.

UNHCR - On 1 January 2007, the total number of UNHCR posts stood at 5,289.

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Staffing Policy


STATISTICS

Figures as of 31 December 2006

4,448,4291,327,772274,01158Agency total

1,016,964478,27293,0748Gaza Strip

722,302186,47939,89519West Bank

442,363119,05526,6459Syria

408,438215,89050,80612Lebanon

1,858,362328,07663,59110Jordan

RegisteredRefugees

RegisteredRefugees

in Camps

Registeredfamilies

in camps

OfficialCamps

Field ofOperations


UNRWA- Interim Conclusion

UNRWA DefinitionUNRWA Definition UNRWA Mandate UNRWA Mandate

++

== Conclusion Conclusion

UNRWA is an Organization that Perpetuates the Problem it is

Supposed to Deal With


The Anomaly of UNRWA

UNRWA מול UNHCR

Recruitment of Staff from Client Population

Exempt from the normal rules and regulations

The only UN agency whose beneficiary population stems from one nation-group

UNRWA vs. UNHCR


Of all the problems inherent in UNRWA’s policies, however, the the practice of hiring from within its own client population is perhaps the practice of hiring from within its own client population is perhaps the thorniestthorniest. Of the approximately 24,000 persons in its employ, all but the roughly 100 “internationals” in executive positions are Palestinian Arabs, the vast majority of whom are themselves refugees… No other No other UN agency does thisUN agency does this; the UNHCR, for example, maintains by design a certain distance from its client base. The reason for this distance is clear: Employers who share the situation of their clients are vulnerable to conflicts of interest. UNRWA staff naturally share the passions and perceptions of their fellow refugees, and can easily be led to act on them inappropriately. In some cases, this means turning a blind eye to In some cases, this means turning a blind eye to beneficiaries of UNRWA services engaged in terrorism; in others, it beneficiaries of UNRWA services engaged in terrorism; in others, it means outright involvement in terrorist activity itselfmeans outright involvement in terrorist activity itself..

Arlene Kushner, "The UN’s Palestinian Refugee Problem", Azure, Autumn 5766 / 2005, No. 22

UNRWA employs some 24,324 staff, of whom more than 99 per cent are locally-recruited Palestinians, almost all of them Palestine refugees.

UNRWA מול UNHCR UNRWA vs. UNHCR Recruitment of Staff from Client Population


Why do Palestinian refugees not come under the mandate of UNHCR?Why do Palestinian refugees not come under the mandate of UNHCR?

Palestine refugees were specifically and intentionally excluded from the were specifically and intentionally excluded from the international refugee law regime established by the 1951 Convention international refugee law regime established by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol theretorelating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto, as long as long as the Palestine refugees receive assistance from UNRWA.as the Palestine refugees receive assistance from UNRWA. UNHCR was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 319 (IV) of 3 December 1949 and is guided by the 1951 Convention. The Statute of UNHCR was adopted by the General Assembly in 1950 as an annex to Resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950. UNHCR, however, has always supported Palestine refugees insofar as its constitution permits.

UNRWA מול UNHCR

From the UNRWA Website

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Exempt from the normal rules and regulations


What is the difference between UNRWA and UNHCR?What is the difference between UNRWA and UNHCR?

UNRWA is only responsible for providing services to one group of refugees, the Palestine refugees, in its areas of operation. UNHCR is responsible for refugees worldwide. UNRWA is mandated to provide the Palestine refugees with humanitarian assistance, whereas UNHCR has the mandate to provide international protection to refugees who fall within the scope of its Statute and to seek permanent solutions for the problem of refugees by assisting Governments. UNRWA has a unique roleUNRWA has a unique role as it is the only UN agencyonly UN agency that reports directly to the UN General Assembly, and whose beneficiary population stems from one nation-groupwhose beneficiary population stems from one nation-group..

UNRWA מול UNHCR UNRWA vs. UNHCR

The only UN agency whose beneficiary population stems from one nation-group

From the UNRWA Website


The Ramifications

UNRWA מול UNHCR UNRWA vs. UNHCR

• Allocation of Resources

• Links to Terror


UNRWA מול UNHCR

Staff Size vs. Client Population

Staff - Appox. 25,000Client Population – Approx 4.5 Mill.

Staff - Appox. 5,000

UNRWA vs. UNHCR Allocation of Resources

Client Population – over 20 Mill.


UNRWA מול UNHCR

What is UNRWA’s budget?UNRWA’s regular cash and in-kind budget for 2007 is US$ 505 million, although expenditure is likely to be less because of forecast shortfalls in donation income. Due to the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory caused by the conflict and Israeli closures, UNRWA has launched repeated emergency appeals for emergency food, employment and cash assistance. In 2007 the Agency is asking for an additional $246 million to cover these emergency needs.

By Region and Headquarters 2007 Revised

West Africa 83,163.1

East and the Horn of Africa 115,837.3

Central Africa and the Great Lakes 162,525.9

Southern Africa 48,324.0

Sub-total Africa 409,850.3

Middle East and North Africa 33,827.0

Asia and the Pacific 184,224.6

Europe 102,508.1

The Americas * 24,593.4

Global Programmes 77,945.0

Headquarters * 157,369.4

Sub-total Programmed Activities 990,317.8

Operational Reserve 31,363.2

Total Programmed Activities and Operational Reserve

1,021,681.0

New or additional activities – mandate-related Reserve

9,771.9

Support costs 1,473.4

Junior Professional Officers 10,000.0

Grand Total 1,042,926.3

BudgetsBudgets

The Agency’s largest donors in 20062006 were the European Commission, the United States, European Commission, the United States, Sweden, Canada and the United KingdomSweden, Canada and the United Kingdom. As of 30 November 20072007, the Agency's largest contribu-tors are the United States, the European Com-United States, the European Com-mission, Sweden, the Norway and United mission, Sweden, the Norway and United KingdomKingdom..

UNRWA vs. UNHCR Allocation of Resources


UNRWA מול UNHCR

Budget vs.Client population

Budget – US$500 Mill

Budget – US$1.1 Bill

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Client Population – Approx 4.5 Mill.

Client Population – over 20 Mill.


Client Population per Staff Member Appox. 180

Budget per Person in Care Approx. 110$

UNRWA מול UNHCR

Client Population per Staff Member Approx 4000

Budget per Person in Care Approx 55 $

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Allocation of Resources


The 200,000 refugees by the global definition make up less than 5% of the 4.25 million by the UNRWA definition. By international standards, the other 95% are not refugees at all. By falsely attaching a refugee status to these Palestinians who never fled anywhere, UNRWA condemns a creative and entrepreneurial people to lives of exclusion, self-pity and nihilism. The UN's Palestinian refugee trap.

Daniel Pipes National Post, August 21, 2003

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

Allocation of Resources


UNRWA generates a, massive politically-motivated massive politically-motivated diversiondiversion of resources in favor of the favor of the PalestiniansPalestinians… at the expense all other refugees expense all other refugees on the face of the globe

In other words:

UNRWA vs. UNHCR

According to Authoritative Estimates :

Applying the Universal UNHCR Criterion to the Palestinian Case

… … Approx.Approx. 4.5 Mill 4.5 Mill to Approx. to Approx. 200,000 200,000

Would Reduce UNRWA Client Population fromWould Reduce UNRWA Client Population from……

Allocation of Resources Mis-Mis-


What is broadly referred to as “UNRWA involvement with terrorism” involves a variety of different and sometimes overlapping aspects:

• the use of UNRWA facilities by terrorists• terrorists who are in the employ of UNRWA• refugees on the rolls of UNRWA and eligible for assistance who have terrorist connections

Arlene Kushner. UNRWA. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East. LINKS TO TERRORISM, 2004

UNRWA מול UNHCR

Links to Terror

UNRWA vs. UNHCR


Terrorist activists confess that UNRWA facilities Terrorist activists confess that UNRWA facilities and vehicles served to carry out terrorist and vehicles served to carry out terrorist activityactivity

Alaa Muhammad Ali HassanAlaa Muhammad Ali Hassan, a “Tanzim” activist from Nablus, who was arrested in February 2002, confessed during his interrogation that he had carried out a sniper shooting from sniper shooting from the school run by UNRWAthe school run by UNRWA in the al-Ayn refugee camp near Nablus. He also told his interrogators that bombs intended bombs intended for terrorist attacks were being manufacturedfor terrorist attacks were being manufactured inside that school’s facilities.

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)

Special Information Paper December 2002

Nidal Abd al-Fattah Abdallah NazzalNidal Abd al-Fattah Abdallah Nazzal, a Hamas activist from

Qalqilya, was arrested in August 2002. Nidal, an ambulance driver employed by UNRWA, confessed during his interrogation that he had transported weapons and explosivestransported weapons and explosives

in an UNRWA ambulance to terroristsin an UNRWA ambulance to terrorists, and that he had taken advantage taken advantage of the freedom of movementof the freedom of movement he enjoyed to transmit messages among Hamas activists in various Palestinian towns.





Nahd Rashid Ahmad Atallah, a senior official of the UNRWA agency in the Gaza Strip who was in charge of distributing the financial aid to the refugees, was arrested in August 2002. He told his interrogators that during the years 1990 through 1993, in his capacity as UNRWA officialhis capacity as UNRWA official, he had granted support to families of wanted terroristsgranted support to families of wanted terrorists, on behalf of Fatah and the “Popular Front”. He also revealed that during the months June and July 2002, he had used his car, anused his car, an

UNRWAUNRWA car, for the transportation of armed members of the “Popular car, for the transportation of armed members of the “Popular Resistance CommitteesResistance Committees” who were on their way to carry out a sniper attack sniper attack against Israeli troopsagainst Israeli troops posted at the Karni passage, and a missile attack and a missile attack against Jewish settlementsagainst Jewish settlements in the Northern part of the Gaza Strip. In addition to these, Nahd had used an UNRWA car to transport a 12 kg used an UNRWA car to transport a 12 kg explosive charge for his brother-in-lawexplosive charge for his brother-in-law, a militant member of the “Popular Resistance Committees” a militant faction of the Fatah movement, active mainly in the Gaza Strip.




Nahd Atallah explained to his interrogators that he had used an UNRWA car for the transportation of terrorists on their way to terrorist attacks, because a car that belongs to because a car that belongs to the United Nations is not subject to inspections by the the United Nations is not subject to inspections by the Israeli army, and as such enjoys freedom of movement on Israeli army, and as such enjoys freedom of movement on the roadsthe roads. This statement bluntly demonstrates the manner in which terrorist activists and terrorist organizations exploit the concessions granted by the Israeli security forces to UNRWA vehicles because of humanitarian motives and the wish to maintain good relations with the United Nations’ representatives that operate in the Palestinian territories.



Radical Islamic terrorist organizations exert Radical Islamic terrorist organizations exert increased influence on UNRWA workersincreased influence on UNRWA workers

During the trade union elections held among UNRWA workerstrade union elections held among UNRWA workers in the Palestinian territories in June 1999, supporters of the Hamas movement, an organization actively involved in murderous terrorist attacks against civilian population centers in Israel, obtained the large majority of the votes: the Hamas movement won no less than 6 seats on UNRWA workers’ executive council, whereas the Fatah supporters had to content themselves with 3 seats.

Hamas’ most overwhelming victory was recorded at the elections of the UNRWA-employed teachers’ unionUNRWA-employed teachers’ union - in which the Hamas movement won all 11 seats. The true nature of the elected teachers was well reflected in the speech delivered on 6 July 2001 by the UNRWA teachers’ delegate, during a conference held by the Hamas movement at the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Suheil al-Hindi, the teachers’ delegate, praised in his speech the students who joined the Hamas movement and carried out suicide attacks against Israel. After reading the names of student suicide bombers, al-Hindi stated that “the road to Palestine passes through the blood of martyrs (shuhada)”, and that “these martyrs were writing history with their torn flesh and bodies”.



UNRWA has failed the Palestinian refugees. This

failure is the product of half a century of

overwhelming politicization of a humanitarian effort.

Fortunately, another UN agency exists to deal with

the problem of refugees, one with a successful

record of resolving their problems around the

world. Those nations interested in finding a

Those nations interested in finding a

genuine, viable solution to the Palestinian refugee

genuine, viable solution to the Palestinian refugee

problem–a problem–a sine qua non

sine qua non for peace in the Middle

for peace in the Middle

East–should be encouraged to support the end of

East–should be encouraged to support the end of

UNRWA’s regime and the application of the policies

UNRWA’s regime and the application of the policies

of the UNHCR to the Palestinian refugee issue

of the UNHCR to the Palestinian refugee issue

Arlene Kushner, "The UN’s Palestinian Refugee Problem", Azure, Autumn 5766 / 2005, No. 22

Thank You for

Thank You for

Your Attention

Your Attention

Dr. Martin Sherman March 2008 “The Refugees” The Tale of Two Organizations UNRWA vs. UNHCR.

Documents

Transcript of Dr. Martin Sherman March 2008 “The Refugees” The Tale of Two Organizations UNRWA vs. UNHCR.