United States boosts United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding by a substantial $16 million, causing discontent among Israeli authorities.
The Lowdown on US Aid to UNRWA: A Tumultuous History
The drama surrounding US funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) remains a hot topic. This time, it's a $223 million transfer in 2023, marking a jump of $16 million compared to the previous year.
This support makes the US the top donor to UNRWA once more, according to the US State Department. Yet, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf's comments about UNRWA's instigating violence in schools raises eyebrows.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper's New York correspondent, Daniel Adelson, points out that this boost in US aid comes despite instances of Palestinian students learning about Israel's past actions, like the erasure of towns in 1948, and the portrayal of Israel as a "Zionist occupation" that threatens Palestinian identity.
History tells us that US support for UNRWA hasn't always been a steady stream. The US traditionally contributed about $350 million yearly, totaling over $6.2 billion between 1950 and 2018[5]. However, political concerns have led to significant fluctuations in funding.
In 2018, funding took a nosedive under the Trump administration, with cuts to pledges in early 2018 followed by a complete halt of US contributions by August 2018. This was due to objections over UNRWA's mandate and accusations of incitement in Palestinian education materials[1][5]. The funding shortfall, amounting to $300 million, left UNRWA scrabbling for alternative donors[1].
Further accusations of incitement were made when it was discovered that UNRWA teaching materials endorsed jihad, spread hate, and contained antisemitism. Germany stopped funding in late 2023 due to such evidence, and the US Congress debated continuous US funding in response to these claims[2]. Lately, in March 2024, the US government halted funding to UNRWA until March 2025 as part of a broader budget package, mirroring ongoing concerns about the organization's practices and links to incitement allegations[2].
In sum, US funding for UNRWA has experienced ups and downs, often tied to political debates and controversies. The future of this relationship remains uncertain as controversies over incitement and US beliefs about UNRWA's policies persist.
- The US State Department announced that the United States has become the top donor to UNRWA once more, with a transfer of $223 million in 2023, a jump of $16 million compared to the previous year.
- Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf's statement about UNRWA instigating violence in schools raised eyebrows.
- Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper's New York correspondent, Daniel Adelson, reported that this boost in US aid comes despite instances of Palestinian students learning about Israel's past actions, like the erasure of towns in 1948, and the portrayal of Israel as a "Zionist occupation" that threatens Palestinian identity.
- History shows that US support for UNRWA hasn't always been steady, with political concerns leading to significant fluctuations in funding.
- In 2018, funding for UNRWA took a substantial decrease under the Trump administration, with cuts to pledges in early 2018 followed by a complete halt of US contributions by August 2018 due to objections over UNRWA's mandate and accusations of incitement in Palestinian education materials.
- Further allegations of incitement were made when it was discovered that UNRWA teaching materials endorsed jihad, spread hate, and contained antisemitism, leading Germany to stop funding in late 2023 and prompting a debate in the US Congress about continuous funding.
- In March 2024, the US government halted funding to UNRWA until March 2025 as part of a broader budget package, reflecting ongoing concerns about the organization's practices and links to incitement allegations.
