Progressives in the US Congress introduced legislation on Thursday that would see Washington resume funding for the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, countering moves by politicians from both parties to cut off financing until at least 2025.
The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act would rescind part of a bipartisan funding bill that President Joe Biden signed into law, which slashed funding to the agency until next year.
The bill picked up 65 co-sponsors, which is “more than notable”, Congressman Andre Carson, its lead co-sponsor, told The National on Thursday.
“While national security and international security concerns have been expressed, that should not be an excuse to allow hundreds of thousands and millions of men and women and children to suffer.”
But 65 Democratic supporters is not enough to pass a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Bipartisan members of Congress supported the halt on US funding to UNRWA, and the leading Republican on the Senate foreign relations committee has said it is the “majority view” in Congress that the relief agency should be shut down altogether.
“Prohibiting US funding for this organisation, which has been on the front lines of this conflict in Gaza, is irresponsible and unacceptable,” fellow co-sponsor Pramila Jayapal said.
UN investigations have shown that nine UNRWA employees “may have been involved” in the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.
Britain and the EU restored funding, which they cut after Israeli allegations that UNRWA employees were involved in the attack, but Washington's continued hold has left serious gaps.
The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act has also been endorsed by more than 120 organisations, according to Mr Carson, including Jewish-American groups Americans for Peace Now and J Street.
J Street's president Jeremy Ben-Ami said his organisation was proud to support the legislation, and that Washington must “stop playing politics with Palestinian welfare and Israel's security”.
The UNRWA is a mainstay of humanitarian aid in Gaza and has been the main provider of food, water and shelter since the war began.
Mara Rudman, former deputy envoy and chief of staff for the State Department's office of the special envoy for Middle East peace, was among those to warn Congress when aid was first cut that there is “no substitute” for the agency.
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
