Arab League countries called illegal the Israeli Knesset’s passage of a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Palestinian territories, declaring the need to adopt a UN resolution to prevent it, Arabi21 reported.
The permanent representatives of the Arab League countries called for the adoption of such a resolution during an emergency meeting of the League Council, chaired by the acting permanent representative of Yemen. Ali Saleh Musa based on a request submitted by Jordan.
Previously, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) approved a package of two bills prohibiting the activities of UNRWA and revoking the immunities and privileges of this UN structure.
The Council also called on “the Arab representatives in New York to coordinate their actions with the ambassadors and delegates of friendly countries and the UN General Secretariat to request the convening of a special session of the UN General Assembly, since it was decision of this body that UNRWA was created to discuss the consequences of this dangerous Israeli law and approve a UN resolution that recognizes this Israeli decision as illegal.
The Arab League Council called on Arab parliaments and the International Parliamentary Union “to pressure the Israeli Knesset to revoke the decision to terminate UNRWA, considering that this decision constitutes a clear and direct violation of the norms and agreements and to work to explore possible measures to freeze the Knesset’s membership in the International Parliamentary Union.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry previously stated that the ban on UNRWA activities in the Palestinian territories violates international law and contradicts the conditions for Israel’s admission to the UN, RIA Novosti recalls.
