Israeli Forces Clear UNRWA Compound in Kafr Aqab

Israel Defense Forces, Israel Police and Jerusalem Municipality personnel today (Tuesday) began clearing the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab. The operation is being carried out as part of implementing the law passed by the Knesset, under which Israel prohibits the organization’s activities within its territory. 

The Knesset passed the law about a year ago with the support of 92 Knesset members. In the months following its approval, security forces operated at UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem’s Ma’alot Dafna neighborhood and demolished the buildings there. About six months ago, security forces arrived to map out the compound, but a terrorist opened fire on them. The terrorist was killed following an exchange of fire.

A week ago, High Court of Justice justices rejected a petition filed against the closure of UNRWA offices in Israel, making clear that they would not intervene in the Knesset’s decision. The petition was filed by the Adalah organization and several Israeli left-wing activists. After hearing both sides, the justices recommended that the petitioners withdraw the petition, finding that no sufficient factual basis had been presented to justify intervening in the laws that led to the end of UNRWA’s operations in Israel. 

The justices made clear that the state is not obligated to cooperate with the UN agency, and that no legal or factual basis had been presented indicating extreme harm that would justify striking down the law.

Yisrael Beiteinu MK Yulia Malinovsky, who initiated the UNRWA laws, said today in response to the start of the clearing operation: "UNRWA is being cleared from Kafr Aqab! From my conversations with the officials familiar with the details, it appears that this is finally happening, and our forces entered together with contractors from the Jerusalem Municipality in order to implement the law I passed and clear UNRWA from Kafr Aqab. It is a shame that I had to go all the way to the High Court of Justice before the government began to move. I will keep my eyes open, and I will make sure that not only is UNRWA cleared from Kafr Aqab, but that the State of Israel takes possession there and establishes its sovereignty there."

Shai Glick, CEO of B’Tsalmo, an organization that also petitioned the High Court of Justice, added: "We are happy that this is finally happening. It is a shame that it did not happen long ago. We will continue and make sure that the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab, and everywhere in the State of Israel, is cleared one hundred percent, and that educational, welfare and community institutions that benefit the public are established there."