Criticism Of Israel's New Law, European Union Diplomat: Wide Consequences, Stop UNRWA Operations In Gaza And The West Bank

Josep Borrell. (Twitter/@JosepBorellF)

JAKARTA - The EU's Head of Foreign Policy in a statement on behalf of 27 EU member states, condemned the Zionist Parliament (Knesset)'s resolution banning the activities of the United Nations Aid and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), insisting the activities of the international agency must continue.

In a statement Josep Borrell said the European Union condemned any attempt to cancel the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA, or any attempt to prevent the organization's activities in line with its mission.

"If this law is implemented, it will have far-reaching consequences and will stop vital UNRWA operations in Gaza and the West Bank," he explained, launching IRNA November 1.

The statement stressed that it is very important for UNRWA to continue carrying out its vital work in line with the mission approved by the UN General Assembly in 1949 and extended since then.

Apart from Gaza and the West Bank, Borrell pointed out that UNRWA also provides essential services to millions of people in East Jerusalem, and throughout the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, quoted from WAFA.

On Monday, Israel's Knesset passed a law banning UNRWA operations, despite international warnings about the implications of the law, which violates various international agreements and norms.

The law aims to "prevent all UNRWA activities in the territory of the State of Israel," establishing the agency will not operate representative offices or provide services, either directly or indirectly, in Israeli territory.

The law scrapped a 1967 agreement allowing UNRWA to operate in Israel, effectively halting the activities of the agency in Israel and its occupied Palestinian territory while banning any communications between Israeli officials and UNRWA staff.

It is known that UNRWA was founded based on the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1949 and was given the mandate to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in its five operational areas: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.