Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the United Kingdom’s
contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is in the current year and next year;
and what steps they are taking to ensure that UNRWA does not run
out of funds.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con)
My Lords, the United Kingdom is a long-term supporter of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency—UNRWA. So far in 2021 we
have provided £27.9 million to UNRWA, although final figures will
be published in the annual statistics for international
development report. This includes an additional £1 million that I
can announce today for UNRWA’s flash appeal following the Gaza
conflict, taking our total contribution to the appeal to £4.2
million. We are also working with UNRWA to improve its financial
viability.
(CB)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer, perhaps more for
its tone than its substance. Could he confirm that the figure he
gave for 2020-21 contrasts with the figure of £70 million in
2018; that is, a cut of something in the region of 60%? Does he
also agree that UNWRA’s work is more valuable and more vital in a
period such as now when there are no talks going on about
resolving the Israel/Palestine dispute? Do not the two things
contrast rather sharply?
(Con)
My Lords, on the noble Lord’s second point about talks, I take
encouragement that recently, for the first time in many years,
President Herzog and President Abbas have spoken, which is a
positive. On UNRWA, the noble Lord is correct. The budget has
reduced, but nevertheless the funding I stated continues to
provide important support, particularly in education for more
than 500,000 children, half of whom are girls, within the
Palestinian territories.
(Lab)
My Lords, I shall just pick up that last point about talks. Last
month, at the UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the
Middle East, the UN Secretary-General remarked that it is 30
years since the historic Madrid peace conference. He also
underlined the ongoing commitment of the UN to work with both
sides and with the Middle East quartet. Can the Minister tell us
a little more about what we are doing as a country to initiate,
facilitate and support our allies in ensuring that talks
commence?
(Con)
My Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, the US is taking a
particular lead on these issues and positive initiatives have
been undertaken by the new Administration in Washington, which we
support. We work very closely with the Israelis and the
Palestinian Authority on a wide range of initiatives underlining
our continued strong support for a two-state solution. More
recently, we have been encouraged by positive steps taken by the
new Government of Israel, including engagement with Jordan, which
will be a key partner in any future peace agreement. I agree with
the noble Lord that this challenge—this issue, this dispute—has
gone on for far too long and that we need a resolution.
(LD)
I met the Commissioner-General of UNRWA on his recent visit to
London and have visited two UNRWA facilities. Young people from
the Shatila camp in Lebanon came to meet me because on the day
that I was going to visit that camp there was a flash security
alert about my visit. That shows the tense nature of these young
people who continue to live in these camps. The 60% reduction of
UK support is not only morally shameful given our historical
obligations, but I saw schoolrooms with books, teaching staff,
computers and other facilities funded by the UK. That 60%
reduction will have a direct impact on those young people,
removing life chances in a very vulnerable area. UNRWA has asked
for an exceptional prioritisation mechanism from the UK FCDO.
Will the Minister please consider that, because these cuts could
be very dangerous?
(Con)
My Lords, I have already acknowledged that there has been a
reduction which reflects the reduction in the overall ODA spend.
Notwithstanding that, on Gaza specifically the United Kingdom has
sought to provide support and the £3.4 million has been enhanced
with the additional £1 million that I have announced. Of course,
I take note of the noble Lord’s insight from visiting camps and
meeting people directly. I will certainly take back his
suggestion to the FCDO.
(Con)
My Lords, I refer the House to my interests in the register. Some
noble Lords call for unwavering financial support for UNRWA by
the British people, but what part of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency should be engaged in teaching hate and
encouraging jihad, violence and martyrdom—paid for by the British
people? I urge my noble friend the Minister to talk to his
colleagues in Canada, Australia and the US about total
restructuring and reform that offers relief and work, as opposed
to incitement and hatred.
(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend will be fully aware of my views on
that. No British money should be spent on any textbook or support
for any institution or organisation that suggests or inflicts
that kind of extremist ideology on any community or any child
anywhere in the world. I assure him that, in our support for
UNRWA, we are vigilant on these issues. I am cognisant of reports
that have been produced in this regard, and we have completed a
full audit to ensure that the facilities we support are fully
consistent with not just our values but those of the UN.
(Lab)
My Lords, the Minister has been in his post a good deal of time
now and is a very effective Minister. How much longer must the
people of the Occupied Territories suffer and be humiliated, in
the way that they have for so many years, before the
international community and the British Government in particular
start taking some positive steps? How is it credible to continue
to argue for a two-state solution when we recognise just one of
the two states? Is it not high time that we at least recognised
the state of Palestine?
(Con)
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his kind remarks. I share
the point that he raises: as I said in an earlier answer, this
has gone on for far too long; from both an Israeli and a
Palestinian perspective, this needs resolution. I have been to
Israel and the Palestinian territories. I have seen for myself
the impact the conflict has on both communities. It requires
peace negotiations to start again. We are encouraged by recent
steps that the US has taken. The position has not changed on
recognition of a Palestinian state: we will do so at a time when
it serves the peace process in the best way. At the same time, we
continue to support and work with the Palestinian Authority. For
example, it was invited to, and attended, COP 26 recently.
(CB)
My Lords, the West has supported UNRWA financially for more than
70 years, contributing tens of billions of dollars towards not
solving the refugee problem but perpetuating it. Is it not time
that UNRWA’s functions were transferred to the United Nations
refugee council and the Palestinian Authority for the proper
treatment of refugees and their resettlement and advancement?
UNRWA is a failure.
(Con)
My Lords, the noble Baroness raises specific issues about UNRWA.
As I said in my original Answer, the UK continues to support
UNRWA but, as I have indicated, where concerns are raised about
any UN agency it is right that the United Kingdom, as both a
funder and a supporter of the multilateral system, ensures that
this work is carried out effectively. I assure the noble Baroness
that this is exactly what we do. As I reiterated earlier, UNRWA
currently carries out some very valuable work, including on the
education of young children.
(Non-Afl)
My Lords, UNRWA was founded in 1948 to help 700,000 refugees but
now provides aid for more than 5 million. Uniquely, UNRWA
status—unlike that of any other refugees anywhere in the world—is
passed down through the generations. Should we not encourage
UNRWA to press Lebanon, Jordan and the other countries to give
these refugees citizenship and full rights, instead of
perpetuating the so-called right of return that prolongs the
conflict and undermines the policy of a two-state solution?
(Con)
My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right: UNRWA was set up under a
unique mandate by the UN General Assembly to provide protection
and core services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.
We are clear that the final status of the Palestinian refugees
must be agreed as part of the wider peace negotiations. Until
that time, the UK remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA
and Palestinian refugees. I note his point about other countries,
and we are supporting Palestinian refugees in those countries as
well.
(LD)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that there are persistent
allegations of increased violence towards Palestinians by
settlers illegally occupying lands on the West Bank? What
representations have Her Majesty’s Government made to the
Government of Israel on this matter?
(Con)
My Lords, we consistently make representations on the issue of
settler violence in the Palestinian territories. I assure the
noble Lord that we work closely with Israel on security issues as
well. For example, we very much encourage recent announcements
from the new Israeli Government on the added support they are
giving, in terms of both economic prosperity and security, for
the Arab community in Israel. Israel is a key partner for the UK.
That means that, as a friend and partner, where we have issues of
concern we raise them directly.