DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW'S MEETINGS WITH UNRWA

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000332 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D - JBUTTE-DAHL; NEA FOR IPA AND SEMEP; AID FOR SBORODIN, NSC FOR KUMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020 TAGS: PREF PGOV KPAL KWBG IS LE SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW'S MEETINGS WITH UNRWA COMMISSIONER GRANDI AND GAZA NGO REPRESENTATIVES Classified By: CG Daniel Rubinstein, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) During his February 19 visit to the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank, Deputy Secretary Jacob J. Lew toured the camp's UNRWA health clinic and discussed UNRWA's operations with UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi, Deputy Commissioner General Margot Ellis, Deputy Director for Gaza Aidan O'Leary, and Director for the West Bank Barbara Shenstone. Separately, the Deputy Secretary met with representatives of humanitarian NGOs, who expressed concern about the situation in Gaza as well as Israeli policy regarding visas for humanitarian workers. End Summary. U.S. Assistance to UNRWA -------------- ¶2. (C) UNRWA Commissioner General Grandi thanked Deputy Secretary Lew for U.S. support to UNRWA, noting that the USG is not only supportive as a donor, (as UNRWA's largest bilateral donor),but also as an advocate for improved access for materials and staff into Gaza and the West Bank. Deputy Director for Gaza O'Leary said that USG support was particularly helpful in convincing the GOI to allow into Gaza materials needed to operate summer camps in 2008. O'Leary suggested that additional USG advocacy is needed, noting that two water/sanitation projects -- one in Rafah and one in Khan Younis -- have remained pending for over two years. ¶3. (C) Grandi said that both Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Fayyad and President Abbas have acknowledged that UNRWA shares an important burden with the PA in providing health and education to 4.7 million Palestinian refugees throughout the region. UNRWA's facilities in the region include 700 schools where nearly 500,000 Palestinian children study, and 140 clinics providing primary health services to the majority of registered refugees. Grandi pointed out that UNRWA is unique among UN agencies as a direct service provider. UNRWA is also perceived as the symbol of the international commitment to the refugee issues until a political solution is found, he said. Neutrality and Anti-Incitement -------------- ¶4. (C) Grandi said the agency is very conscious of U.S. concerns about neutrality, stressing that "we try hard to be responsible users of U.S. Government funds." He said UNRWA makes every effort to ensure the integrity of its programs, particularly in education and in the distribution of food and other relief assistance. One way UNRWA accomplishes this is through the U.S.-funded Operation Support Office, staffed with international officers who conduct inspections to ensure the neutrality of UNRWA installations and programs. O'Leary stated that UNRWA "must be impartial, or we fail. Everyone watches us: the Palestinian factions, Israel, Egypt, the donors." He said that UNRWA has a zero tolerance policy towards staff conduct. If staff participate in political conferences or rallies, regardless of party affiliation, UNRWA will terminate their employment, O'Leary added. ¶5. (C) On the education curriculum, O'Leary emphasized that the GOI distributes the same textbooks used by UNRWA to Arabic-medium public schools in East Jerusalem, noting that if the GOI had concerns about incitement within those books, it would not do so. Director for the West Bank Shenstone said that the PA textbooks, used by UNRWA, have been examined closely by international organizations. The two historical narratives taught on the Israeli and Palestinian sides differ significantly, she noted, but no overt incitement was found. Although the refugee narrative is very present in the Palestinians' lives and homes, it is not taught in the schools, she said. ¶6. (C) O'Leary noted that UNRWA/Gaza has developed a special human rights curriculum, expanding on UNRWA's regular Human Rights and Tolerance Education program. He said that the special curriculum builds on the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights, Gandhi's anti-colonial movement in India, Mandela's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and the U.S. Civil Rights movement to teach children about non-violence, human rights, and the responsibilities and obligations that come with those rights. UNRWA's Relationship with the GOI -------------- ¶7. (C) Grandi suggested that UNRWA's relationship with the GOI is constructive; "we both need each other," he said. The relationship is also sometimes fraught with conflict over day-to-day operational issues. Like other UN agencies, UNRWA's access to the GOI is mostly limited to Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the director general-level of GOI ministries, he said. However, decisions are not made at this level, said Grandi, who added that he is working with UN sister agencies to arrange ministerial-level meetings. ¶8. (C) In response to reports that UNRWA's presence perpetuates the cycle of poverty in the camps, Grandi said that the reality is that there is no alternative. The refugees remain refugees because of the lack of a political solution. Grandi maintained that, if UNRWA were to cease to exist, the refugees would be stateless people adrift in the region, at risk of radicalization. He said that through the provision of health, education and social services, UNRWA helps to keep the refugee population from further extremism. He admitted that UNRWA could do more to promote self-reliance, but is constrained by lack of resources as well as by the ongoing conflict. Grandi said that he discussed with Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora last week the issue of granting more rights to refugees in Lebanon, particularly the right to work. Siniora reportedly agreed, but said it would have to be done quietly. Gaza NGOs: Siege is Weakening Moderates and Civil Society -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In their meeting with Deputy Secretary Lew on Gaza issues, representatives of international NGOs CARE, CHF, CRS, and ARD asserted that the Israeli siege on Gaza is counterproductive because it strengthens HAMAS and more radical elements within Gaza. Moderate elements, including independent civil society organizations and the private sector, are grower weaker day by day, they said. NGOs also drew attention to the new Israeli visa regime for humanitarian workers, which makes it illegal for international NGO personnel to work in East Jerusalem. They expressed concern that the new restrictions would negatively impact their ability to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. (Note: This issue was subsequently raised by Deputy Secretary Lew in his meeting with Israeli Minister for Regional Cooperation Silvan Shalom and will be reported by Embassy Tel Aviv septel.) ¶10. (SBU) Although they recognized USG efforts to increase the range of goods allowed into Gaza, the NGOs pleaded for a more aggressive approach. NGO representatives expressed concern that USG contact policy (which prohibits all communication with public sector institutions in Gaza, except at the lowest administrative level) puts them "at risk" and makes an already challenging operating environment even more difficult. NGO representatives asked that the contact policy be changed or interpreted to allow for basic communication at the lowest technical level, to give them slightly more room to operate and to align with a more common position among donors and NGOs in Gaza. They noted that there is a tremendous need for assistance in Gaza, and Gazans appreciate the assistance the USG provides. ¶11. (SBU) Deputy Secretary Lew expressed appreciation for the work that the international NGOs are doing, and explained that there is an extraordinary amount of scrutiny on USG assistance to Gaza, and how it is implemented. He stressed that the USG has been working hard to increase the range of goods entering Gaza, at many levels, and will continue to do so. He made clear that while he recognized the challenges that U.S. contact policy presented for our implementing partners, it was critical to our ability to continue providing assistance in Gaza and would remain in place, without modification. RUBINSTEIN