Israel’s Ambassador to Portugal Dor Shapira criticized this Saturday the funding provided to the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA), whose members, he said, were involved in terrorist activities during the war between Israel and Hamas.
“There are other ways to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip than by funding an organization whose members are involved in terrorist and incitement activities. […]. UNRWA is part of the problem, not the solution,” said Dor Shapira in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel’s ambassador to Portugal stressed that “many countries have suspended funding” for the agency and are working to find “more productive and useful ways” to help the Palestinians.
On Friday, the Foreign Minister announced that Portugal would make an additional contribution of one million euros to UNRWA.
João Gomes Craviño announced the emergency contribution after a meeting with Philippe Lazzarini, in charge of the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees, at a time when several countries, including European Union (EU) member states, announced they were suspending contributions due to alleged involvement some elements of the organization to attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in southern Israel last October.
This Saturday, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs said that having three different approaches among EU countries regarding donations to the UN agency for Palestinian affairs is weakening the community bloc.
“We will discuss how we can act in a coordinated manner. Some member states responded by increasing support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); they did not reduce it, they increased it! Others said they would continue to support him but were going to wait and see. [as conclusões do inquérito] and others have been cut,” said Josep Borrell before entering an informal meeting of ministers with the diplomatic portfolio in Brussels.
“These different approaches to a critical issue are not good for the European Union. We need a common position, and I will discuss it today. [sábado]”, concluded the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
Josep Borrell criticized Israel’s handling of the military invasion that began in October in the Gaza Strip for sending the Palestinian population to supposedly safe areas but indiscriminately bombing the area.
Germany and France are among the EU countries that have announced a suspension of contributions to UNRWA.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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