UNRWA - Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:34 pm on 15 May 2024.

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Photo of Lord Polak Lord Polak Conservative 3:34, 15 May 2024

My Lords, I refer the House to my registered interests. I am sure that my noble friend will join me in wishing the people of Israel well on Israel’s 76th birthday yesterday, including the 132 hostages being held in captivity. On 19 November 2018, I said from this position that

UNRWA, which was born in 1949, is now outdated, does not provide value for money”,

and that it

“refuses to help resettle the Palestinians and even refuses to take … some 2 million Palestinians living in Jordan” off its refugee list. It therefore

“continues to perpetuate the problem”.

I appealed for a

“new and modern programme of aid and development for the benefit of the Palestinian people and all the peoples of the region

I therefore ask my noble friend the Minister: post 7 October, can the UK take a lead to urgently create that new, modern programme?