Media: UNRWA operations at risk as Israel enforces new restrictions

The United Nations (UN) is unable to stop the entry into force of the law in Israel, which prohibits the activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The law adopted by the Knesset (parliament) of the Jewish state prohibits UNRWA employees to contact with Israeli officials, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

This, UN officials explained, could effectively block the agency's activities in the Palestinian territories, as UNRWA staff would not be able to obtain visas, use Israeli-controlled checkpoints or have diplomatic protection.

As the WSJ noted, the UN has no contingency plan in case all of these measures come into effect, so the organisation will not be able to prevent the agency from suspending operations.

The newspaper pointed out that Norway has asked the UN General Assembly to ask the UN International Court of Justice to examine whether Israel's ban violates international law. At the same time, according to the newspaper, only the United States is likely to be able to influence the Jewish state.

By Khagan Isayev