Flemish Belanger Sam Van Rooy has strongly criticized the United Nations. “One would sometimes think that UN stands for United Nazis,” he said. The Flemish Member of Parliament often seeks out controversy.
Van Rooy asked Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon to explain the Flemish support to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the Foreign Policy Committee. The Vlaams Belanger called the United Nations a “mockery institution”, with a “morbid obsession” against Israel.
According to Van Rooy, the UN agency UNRWA is an extension of the extremist Palestinian organization Hamas. He is also concerned about anti-Semitism in the organization’s schools.
Wait for investigation
Van Rooy asked the Prime Minister to stop supporting the UN agency. “UNRWA cultivates Palestinian victimhood and does not contribute to a solution. The agency is only making the Palestinian refugee problem worse.”
Jambon first wants to wait for the investigations into the accusations. “Until then, we will not commit support for a new period of three years,” it said.
“Employees involved in terror attack”
UNRWA plays an important role in coordinating aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and in the Palestinian refugee camps. However, the UN agency is currently under fire for the possible involvement of its employees in the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7. According to the Israeli government, 12 of the 13,000 UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip were involved.
The UN agency stopped cooperation with possible parties involved and also announced its own investigation. Two other agencies are also investigating the allegations. “If they are correct, strict action must be taken,” said the Prime Minister. “Support for terror goes against every humanitarian principle and can never be condoned.”
159,000 euros
A final installment of 159,000 euros of Flemish support to UNRWA was paid on January 24, before Israel announced the accusations. The payment was part of a three-year support program.
If a new contract were to be concluded with UNRWA, it would be negotiated in January next year, according to Jambon. “If the support were to be canceled, we will look at how we can provide assistance to Palestinian refugees in a different way,” the Prime Minister assures.
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