The issue of Palestinian refugees has been recognized by all parties - including Israel, the Palestinians and the U.S. - as one of the key "final status issues" to be resolved through negotiations. The United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) is the UN body charged with providing humanitarian support for Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, until there is such a resolution.

UNRWA has long played a vital role as a source of stability and humanitarian assistance - food, medical care, education - to a population in severe distress. The continued effective operations of UNRWA - until a peace agreement resolves the refugee question - is crucial to the interests of both the U.S. and Israel. Absent UNRWA's efforts, the vacuum could be filled by extremists who build political support by providing humanitarian relief.

Over the years, the U.S. has contributed generously to UNRWA. This funding should be recognized as an investment in the stability and security of the region and the well-being of Israel. It also ensures that Israel is not forced to shoulder the burden of caring for refugees in the West Bank and Gaza.

It is appropriate for the U.S. to demand accountability of UNRWA. However, demands for unreasonable levels of oversight, efforts to disband UNRWA, and demands that an agency that has no security mandate or resources fight terrorists, disclose other agendas. These include a desire to "resolve" this final status issue outside the context of negotiations. Such undermining of UNRWA is inconsistent with the interests and publicly articulated policies of both the U.S. and Israel.

APN supports continued UNRWA operations and rejects reckless efforts to undermine or de-legitimize UNRWA. APN supports continued U.S. funding of UNRWA, with reasonable oversight and accountability of U.S. taxpayer funds.

(Feb. 2011)