Israel Bans UNRWA: A Necessary Step to Protect Future Generations

In a powerful move to protect its security and future, Israel recently passed legislation to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating in its territories. While the U.S. government has expressed concern over the decision, Israeli officials and experts are defending the legislation as crucial to stopping the spread of extremist ideologies among Palestinian children.

Marcus Sheff, CEO of the NGO IMPACT-se, which monitors anti-Jewish and anti-Israel content in UNRWA’s educational materials, emphasized the severity of the situation, citing that 23% of UNRWA’s male employees have direct ties to Hamas. He notes, "These are not a few bad apples but representative of the whole rotten barrel," making it clear that UNRWA’s influence goes far beyond humanitarian aid.

This troubling statistic came to light after it was revealed that many of the terrorists involved in the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel had been educated in UNRWA schools. According to Fleur Hassan Nahoum, Israel’s Special Envoy to the Foreign Ministry, "Eighty percent of the terrorists that committed the massacre were educated in UNRWA schools."

Israel’s decision to end UNRWA’s operations in Jerusalem and limit its activities in Gaza and the West Bank is seen as a long-overdue response to these facts. Nahoum further commented that the move has already produced positive results, with a 20% increase in students abandoning UNRWA schools in favor of schools offering a more hopeful, opportunity-driven curriculum.

The Biden administration, however, remains critical. A U.S. State Department official said, “We are deeply troubled,” arguing that the shutdown could lead to catastrophe for the 3 million Palestinians who rely on UNRWA’s services, from healthcare to education.

But Sheff countered these claims, pointing out that 15 million refugee children around the world are being educated without UNRWA’s involvement. Even UNRWA’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, admitted that other aid agencies could step in—so why hasn’t this been done already? Sheff posed the critical question: “What can UNRWA possibly offer the next generation of Palestinians? More poisonous textbooks taught too often by extremist teachers?”

As more details emerge, it becomes increasingly clear that Israel’s decision is about more than just curbing terrorism—it’s about saving a generation from growing up under the shadow of hatred and radicalization. The battle to safeguard Israel’s future is far from over, but by cutting ties with an organization so deeply intertwined with terrorist factions, Israel is making a significant stride towards peace.

For a deeper dive into UNRWA’s troubling connections and Israel’s response, read Debbie Weiss’ full article on The Algemeiner here.