RAMALLAH, October 6, 2018 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Education denounced on Saturday Israeli plans to end services, including education, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is providing to Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministry said in a statement that UNRWA runs seven schools in East Jerusalem that serve 1800 students in addition to vocational training centers, playing grounds and health clinics.

It warned of grave consequences on the life of the Palestinian refugees in the city if the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem goes ahead and shuts down UNRWA operations.

West Jerusalem mayor, Nir Barkat, said he is considering ending UNRWA presence and services to refugees in occupied East Jerusalem and turning its services over to his municipality.

“This decision is part of an aggressive campaign launched by the Israeli occupation to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and erase its Palestinian identity, especially by targeting the education sector in the holy city,” said the ministry. “The decision is part of a series of malicious steps - in harmony with the US administration – that aim at ending UNRWA operations, which provide humanitarian and educational services to Palestinian refugees.”

The United States launched a vicious campaign against UNRWA and Palestinian refugees that started with ending all contributions to the humanitarian agency as part of a plot to end the refugee issue.

The Ministry of Education said a decision to shut down UNRWA operations in Jerusalem is “a blatant defiance of the United Nations and its institutions.” UNRWA was established in 1949 by a UN resolution.

M.K.