Israel hails end of US funding for Palestinians

Jerusalem: Israel welcomed yesterday a US decision to end funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), accusing the organisation which supports some five million Palestinians of perpetuating the Middle East conflict, reports AFP.

Israel and the United States have accused the nearly 70-year-old agency of maintaining the idea that many Palestinians are refugees with a right to return to the homes from which they fled or were expelled during the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation, an idea they both oppose.

On Friday, Washington, which until last year was by far the agency's biggest contributor announced it was ending funding to the "irredeemably flawed operation."

"Israel supports the US move," an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on condition of anonymity.

"Consolidating the refugee status of Palestinians is one of the problems that perpetuates the conflict."

 

Israel hails end of US funding for Palestinians

Jerusalem: Israel welcomed yesterday a US decision to end funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), accusing the organisation which supports some five million Palestinians of perpetuating the Middle East conflict, reports AFP. Israel and the United States have accused the nearly 70-year-old agency of maintaining the idea that many Palestinians are refugees with a right to return to the homes from which they fled or were expelled during the 1948 war that accompanied Israels creation, an idea they both oppose. On Friday, Washington, which until last year was by far the agencys biggest contributor announced it was ending funding to the irredeemably flawed operation. Israel supports the US move, an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said on condition of anonymity. Consolidating the refugee status of Palestinians is one of the problems that perpetuates the conflict.