An Israeli ban on the embattled United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees went into effect on Thursday, prohibiting the agency from operating within Israel and barring Israeli officials from cooperating with it.
In Jerusalem, where the UNRWA’s headquarters are located, Deputy Mayor Arieh King told The Press Service of Israel that the municipality would take over the agency’s services, primarily health care and education.
“From today, the freedom of activity and freedom of movement and freedom of doing and thinking like they have a special right, that was what the UNRWA employees had until today, from today it’s finished,” he told TPS-IL.
“For years I tried to convince people how dangerous UNRWA [curriculum] is by brainwashing a generation of young Arab citizens and residents of Jerusalem,” he said. “The families, the children of these schools have already received a message from the government that they have a choice where to put their children to study. And they will be accepted to be part of the school that they would choose in their neighborhood.”