The Dutch House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to gradually phase out funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, better known as UNRWA.
If the bill passes through the Senate and is signed into law, it will cut contributions to UNRWA from €19 million to €15 million in 2025 and will continue to decrease annually until 2029 when only €1 million will be granted.
Eighty-eight members voted in favor of the amendment put forward jointly by Chris Stoffer of the Reformed Political Party (SGP) and Joost Eerdmans of the Correct Answer party (JA21), while 49 members voted against it, and 13 members were absent.
The background of the proposal
The proposal background reads, “UNRWA as an organization has been criticized for repeated violations of neutrality and for some employees who glorified violence in telegram groups. In addition, there have been serious allegations against its employees who participated in the October 7 massacre or with the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.
“In addition, there is the issue of antisemitism in UNRWA teaching methods and those of host countries, which was also noted in the Colonna report. The submitters are, therefore, critical of the financing of UNRWA and do not yet see sufficient reform and improvement.
“The proceeds of this amendment will be used for emergency aid. The submitter attaches importance to diversification and more efficient, less controversial channels. The resources that are released will benefit emergency aid under Article 4.1. The gradually released resources will go hand in hand with the diversification of emergency aid.”
For years, UNRWA has faced wide criticism for its curriculum, which included examples glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Jews, as well as its staff, who lauded violence.
These accusations became even starker in the past year, as UNRWA staff were found to actively take part in the October 7 massacre, play roles in terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and praise the massacre on telegram groups.
A former UNRWA teacher was also found to have been involved in leading a Hamas-affiliated organization in the Netherlands, which organizes weekly protests.
Last month, it was revealed that former UNRWA commissioner Pierre Krähenbühl held a secret meeting with leaders of Palestinian terror groups in Lebanon, including Hamas, the PIJ, and the PFLP, asking those present to keep the meeting ‘out of the public sphere,’ and assuring them: “we are one.”
Stoffer and Eerdmans voiced their criticism of the financing of UNRWA, adding that they have not seen sufficient reform and improvement to continue funding the work of UNRWA.
According to them, the proceedings of this amendment will be used to fund other organizations that provide emergency aid to innocent Palestinian civilians instead.
Stoffer commented to The Jerusalem Post, “Together with Joost Eerdmans, I proposed an amendment to reduce UNRWA’s funding over the coming years. Dutch aid should go to individuals in need, but we cannot support organizations that have employees who have ties with terror organizations or even participated in the attacks on October 7, 2023.
“We have also consistently spoken out against antisemitism in textbooks UNRWA uses. The proceeds of this amendment will be used to fund other organizations that provide humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians. I’m thankful that a majority of the Dutch House of Representatives supported our amendment in an 88-49 vote.”