Clock is ticking: Israel orders U.N. agency to clear out of Jerusalem by Jan. 30

JERUSALEM –In one of the clearest examples of the law of unintended consequences, Israel notified the United Nations on Saturday that UNRWA, the agency with sole responsibility for so-called Palestinian refugees has until Jan. 30 to evacuate its personnel from all its premises in Jerusalem, in line with Knesset legislation banning the agency’s operations within the Jewish state.

Ahead of the implementation of the UNRWA legislation, I informed the Secretary General that UNRWA representatives must vacate UNRWA facilities in Jerusalem as stipulated by law.

Hamas and other terrorist organizations have long infiltrated UNRWA. The Secretary-General’s… pic.twitter.com/uZrb4bisLP

— Danny Danon דני דנון (@dannydanon) January 25, 2025

“Israel expects that UNRWA take all the necessary steps to cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city within the stated time frame,” Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said in a letter addressed to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

The three-page letter spelled out the rationale behind the move, as well as the impasse in the talks between Israel and the United Nations, which Danon said had reached a “point beyond repair.”

The Knesset’s overwhelming decision to ban UNRWA’s activities, “came as a direct response to the acute national security risks posed by the widespread infiltration of UNRWA’s ranks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and the agency’s persistent refusal to address the very grave and material concerns raised by Israel, and to remedy this intolerable situation,” the letter noted.

Danon’s missive mentioned two locations specifically; UNRWA’s current headquarters in Ma’alot Dafna; and the property in the neighborhood of Kfar Aqueb, the northernmost Palestinian area in East Jerusalem. He wrote the Israel Land Authority had sent “clear and explicit” notices to UNRWA on Jan. 14, 2024 and May 28, 2024, respectively, for those properties, indicating UNRWA’s use of them is “done without proper authorization.” He charged the agency with “blatant disregard,” while also attempting to shield behind its immunity.

Born and raised in Ramallah, yet still a “refugee”?@EinatWilf dismantles the illusion UNRWA perpetuates, keeping alive the myth of a Palestine that replaces Israel from the river to the sea. pic.twitter.com/Tyi3OrAv9W

— Yasmine Mohammed ياسمين محمد (@YasMohammedxx) December 20, 2024

The ambassador also said UNRWA had appropriated land in Kfar Aqueb without the owner’s consent and which the Jerusalem Municipality had earmarked for “establishing a much-needed educational compound for the Arab population residing in the neighborhood, including children with special needs.”

The letter concludes by stressing Israel’s “steadfast commitment to its obligations under international law” and to cooperate with the U.N. and any other of its agencies, which have not been “infiltrated by terrorist organizations.” It adds finally it would be in the best interests of the U.N. for its legitimacy and credibility if it did not allow its agencies to become infested with terrorists.

At the opening session of the Knesset’s winter term in late October, Israel’s parliament took the extraordinary step of approving two bills effectively barring the U.N. agency from functioning in Israel, and severely curtailing its activities in Gaza, as well as Judea and Samaria.

זהו, נגמר. אונר”א IS OUT!

לאחר עבודה מאומצת בוועדת החוץ והביטחון, הצלחנו להוביל למהלך היסטורי ומשמעותי לביטחון המדינה ולסיכול אחת מזרועות הטרור שפעלה בחסות האו”ם. מליאת הכנסת הצביעה ממש כעת על חוקי אונר”א. >> pic.twitter.com/xndeLcWR62

— Yuli Edelstein יולי אדלשטיין (@YuliEdelstein) October 28, 2024

The Biden administration was deeply opposed to the Knesset’s decision saying it augured “catastrophe for the Palestinians.” Needless to say there has already been a marked change in emphasis since the Trump 2.0 administration assumed power less than a week ago, when one of the first presidential acts was to sign an executive order immediately halting nearly all foreign aid.

It seems unlikely Trump or anyone from his team will be overly upset about a decision taken by Israel’s legislative body, especially in the wake of a mountain of evidence linking so many UNRWA employees to terrorist activities.