dr. martin sherman march 2008 “the refugees” the tale of two organizations unrwa vs. unhcr
TRANSCRIPT
Dr. Martin ShermanDr. Martin Sherman March 2008March 2008
“The Refugees”
The Tale of Two Organizations
UNRWA vs. UNHCR
“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
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
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.
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
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)
Special Information Paper December 2002
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
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.
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)
Special Information Paper December 2002
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
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.
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)
Special Information Paper December 2002
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”.
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)
Special Information Paper December 2002
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