Israeli Initiative- Chapter 7: How Refugees are Treated Around the World

By Yoav Sorek In previous weeks, we presented the history of UNRWA and its failures as an organization meant to deal with the Palestinian refugee problem. Last week, we presented some information on UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, as a contrast to UNRWA and a possible partner for future refugee rehabilitation. The Israel Initiative proposes that…

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Foreign Ministry: EU resolution ignores main obstacle to peace

by Jpost.com staff and AP, Jerusalem Post A resolution passed by European Union foreign ministers Tuesday to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state “ignores the primary obstacle to achieving a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement released after the vote. The statement said…

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Israeli Initiative – Chapter 4: UNRWAs Foundation, Mandate and History

By Yoav Sorek After Israel’s War of Independence ended, UN General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) founded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on December 8, 1949. UNRWA began operations in May 1950, with 860,000 registered refugees. UNRWA’s mandate was to carry out relief and works programs…

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Not everyone in the Mideast wants peace

By CLIFFORD D. MAY, Scripps Howard News Service Because the Obama administration is keen to restart negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlements. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has responded by demanding more — as a pre-condition, before he will talk. Just…

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