UNWRA spokesperson, “The IDF has a right and duty to protect its citizens”

15 May 2011 , 12:58 Rotem Caro Weizman IDF
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/2011/05/1502.htm

“The IDF, like any other army in the world, has the right and duty to
protect its citizens,” said the spokesperson for the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA),
Christopher Gunness. In an interview with IDF Website, Gunness discussed
UNWRA’s activities in the Gaza Strip and the Judea and Samaria region, as
well as the influence the organization has not just on Palestinian medical
care but on education.

UNWRA was formed in 1948 in response to Palestinians’ escape from their
homes, by the masses, to Israel’s neighboring countries, to the West Bank
and to the Gaza Strip. According to decision 302 of the UN General Assembly
on December 8th, 1948, and the organization’s activities beginning on May
1st, 1950, UNWRA’s responsibilities permanently linked it to routine work
with IDF forces.

“UNWRA has authority over everything that has to do with humanitarian aid to
Palestinian refugees including welfare, health, infrastructures and
improvement of conditions in refugee camps. About half of the budget is
spent on education,” explained Gunness. He added that the organization has a
significant effect on Palestinian education programs.

“We use school books from the country in which we work,” he says but adds
that, “from the year 2002, we enriched the system with hours dedicated to
learning everything about the conflict and human rights, teaching these as
part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since 2007, we’ve put
even more emphasis on the matter in the Gaza Strip.”

“No one wants to see Israel slandered”

With that, Gunness talked about the difficulties of educating in the Gaza
Strip. “It’s hard to explain human rights to someone who is under an
occupation,” he says, but adds that cooperation with the IDF has been
fruitful and continues to grow.

“We have a good working relationship with the IDF, both using through our
communication offices.” Regarding the IDF’s image in the world Gunness said,
“At the end of the day, Israel is a member of the UN and no one wants to see
it slandered. You have a right and a duty to protect your citizens, but to
simultaneously safeguard the lives of the population in the Gaza Strip.”

Unlike other Palestinians in the world, who are under the jurisdiction of
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
UNWRA is responsible for the care of Palestinian refugees alone as it was
formed before UNHCR.

“There are those who say that UNWRA perpetuates the problem of Palestinian
generations but our process is similar to that of UNHCR. We absolutely do
not perpetuate a problem for which a solution can only be found in a
rightful, long-term agreement according to a UN decision. Until such a
decision is made UNWRA will be here,” said Gunness.

“UNWRA denounces terrorist activities”

Referring to the humanitarian reality in the Gaza Strip, Gunness explained
that the IDF enables the entrance of significant amounts of merchandise and
medical equipment but says more needs to be let in. “UNWRA denounces
terrorist acts, the rocket attacks of terrorist organizations. We believe
just being in possession of a Qassam rocket is an illegal activity,” he
explains.

Gunness explained that UNWRA’s humanitarian activities are absolutely in
Israel’s best interest. “Open economy, strong imports and exports – these
all enable people to be less bitter and allow them a certain amount of
normalcy which helps communicate with Israel as a partner,” says Gunness. As
part of this, for example, UNWRA is planning a Gaza marathon this week, like
those, which took place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem recently, in order to
acquire funds for the fifth year of summer games in the Strip.

“To do this as well as enable entrance of goods we work together with the
IDF. Thus far I know of no problems,” he said.