Israel Did Not Contact UNRWA On Reported Closure Of East Jerusalem Schools - Agency Head

Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published January 24, 2019 | 01:38 PM

Israel has not yet officially informed the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of its reported plans to close the agency-run schools in East Jerusalem, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Kraehenbuehl told Sputnik in an interview

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) Israel has not yet officially informed the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of its reported plans to close the agency-run schools in East Jerusalem, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Kraehenbuehl told Sputnik in an interview.

On Sunday, Israeli media reported about the Israeli National Security Council's decision to revoke permits issued to UNRWA-run schools in East Jerusalem starting next school year and replace them with Israeli-run schools.

"As of this moment, the [Israeli] Foreign Ministry has not informed us of any change in the situation. We are continuing our services in education, healthcare and other areas. This is how we will take it forward. As far as practical implications - we have not seen any changes," Kraehenbuehl said, when asked about the reports.

He added that UNRWA intended to continue to run its schools and clinics on territories agreed with Israel in the 1960s.

"The mandate of UNRWA is very clear about where we work. As far as the Palestinian territory is concerned, it is the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Our relationship and cooperation with the state of Israel is built around an agreement which goes back to the 1960s ... We are very determined to keep the schools and clinics and all our services. They are open for the moment and that is how we intend to proceed," Kraehenbuehl said.

UNRWA was set up in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, pending the resolution of their conflict with Israel. The agency runs 711 schools with the help of 22,000 school staff that are predominantly Palestinian refugees.