After the Biden Administration temporarily paused funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) because of the involvement of staff members in the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians, Democratic Majority for Israel President and CEO Mark Mellman made the following statement:
“DMFI welcomes Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement that the United States will temporarily pause additional funding to UNRWA as the State Department investigates the involvement of UNRWA employees in Hamas’ massacre of 1,200 Israelis, Americans, and others, and the abduction of more than 250 men, women, and children on October 7th.
“UN employees are required to be neutral in politics and to avoid criminal activity. UNRWA and its employees have long violated those principles. That UNRWA employees actively participated in savage terrorism is a deplorable and permanent stain on the UN and on UNRWA.
“Providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians is a vital objective, but it must be done in a way that doesn’t support terrorism.
“DMFI has regularly called for reforming UNRWA, which in addition to providing humanitarian aid has long incited hatred and violence. Through its statements and actions, UNRWA has become a serious obstacle to peace. We now find that its employees also participate in mass murder, torture, and kidnapping. Donors must insist on a complete overhaul and reform of UNRWA.
“We urge the Administration to make the current pause the beginning of that root-and-branch remaking of this agency which is badly off track.”
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