RAMALLAH, September 3, 2018 (WAFA) – The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expressed on Monday its deepest concern over the US decision to cut all funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

“Such despicable measure may be the most biased and extreme ever taken by the United States since 1948 regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said a statement issued by the government of Venezuela. “Far from contributing to the region’s stability, the US is jeopardizing millions of people by collectively punishing them, availing itself of its economic power.”

It said: “They show once again their contempt for the multilateral system and their commitment to unilateralism, which only guides us towards arbitrariness and the law of the strongest.”

Venezuela expressed its strong support for and solidarity with the Palestinian People and particularly to those in refugee situation.

“Intending to oppress a worthy people through economic extortion they shall not defeat its desire for national liberation,” it said.

“For more than 70 years, the Palestinian people have rejected all attempts seeking to impose over them agreements eliminating their nationality, hampering the return of those who have been expelled from their country and stealing their territories,” said the statement.

“We are confident that before this new attempt, the Palestinian people shall prevail with dignity.”

It said that Venezuela acknowledges the work of all UNRWA officials who, despite all difficulties, have tried to continue protecting the human rights of Palestinian refugees.

“We reject the smear campaign against the organization and we reiterate our conviction that lasting peace is achieved through a dialogue based on respect and justice and not through coercion,” the statement concluded.

T.R./M.K.