“We will remove UNRWA from Jerusalem and replace its failed services with municipal services” stated Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, after US President Donald Trump announced cutting financial aid to the organization.

Barkat revealed his initiative during a “Chadashot” News forum, to remove the UNRWA organization (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine “Refugees”) from Jerusalem and replace the services it provides by the municipality since 1965. Since 1965, the organization has been responsible for 30,000 residents in the Shuafat refugee camp.

Barkat: “UNRWA is a foreign and unnecessary entity that has failed miserably, and I intend to expel it from Jerusalem. Only one percent of the students choose to teach their children in their schools and the incitement there is rising. The cleanliness, which is their responsibility, is deteriorating, and their welfare services do not give hope to the residents. Satisfaction is very low. I have instructed the municipality’s professional staff to prepare a work plan which I will present to the prime minister for the eviction of UNRWA from Jerusalem.

“We will close their schools and allow students hope and Israeli matriculation in the existing schools throughout the city. We will bring an end to their incitement. We will replace their failing welfare services with our programs that combine extricating them from their poverty and providing employment and replace the poor cleaning services with upgraded municipal cleaning services.

“Wherever the municipality operates, the Arab public is more satisfied and less violent. UNRWA’s approach to the residents as refugees is a barrier to their advancement, and there is no longer any place for them: it is possible to change the attitude towards them from refugees to the residents and improve services to them and increase the Israelization in East Jerusalem and contribute to its unity and sovereignty of Jerusalem. ”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Jerusalem Spokesman’s Office)