UNRWA’s Maalot Dafna compound in Jerusalem must be evacuated

UN Secretary General Guterres dismissal of the heinous acts of the Black Shabbat massacre and indifference to the sexual violence, in a statement he has not retracted, enraged our government. United Nations Relief and Works Agency employees participated in the massacre. In the course of the war weapons were found in UNRWA schools, a tunnel beneath their Gaza headquarters. Over 10% of its teachers are members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. UNRWA helped and continues to help Hamas govern Gaza.

These findings, in addition to what was already known, mainly UNRWA’s anti -Semitic educational system, have led to recent protests at their Maalot Dafna compound. Housing Minister Yitschak Goldknopf ordered to get them out, an eviction notice forwarded by the Israel Lands Administration, Three laws to outlaw UNRWA in Israel are presently pending in the Knesset.

The fenced Maalot Dafna UNRWA compound, three and a half hectares in area stands on extremely valuable State-owned land. Of industrial character it is situated between Maalot Dafna and Ammunition Hill National Memorial Park. An eyesore, it blocks pedestrian access between the existing neighborhood and Ammunition Hill, as well as the Rene’ Cassin High School, utterly incompatible with its surroundings.

Were this facility to be finally evacuated an exceptional urban design opportunity would be presented as surrounding existing roads make possible a car-free and safe Jewish neighborhood with extensive protected open space, enabling the completion of the urban fabric appropriately. The Green Line light-rail station soon to be constructed on Shragai Street to its North means excellent public transportation close by.

Comprising at least 800 home units, the historic British Police School with its large courtyard would be preserved, renovated, added to and converted into a multi-purpose public building serving the new neighborhood. Proposed are mixed-use (commercial and office facilities) along adjacent streets with parking underground.

UNRWA, established by the UN in 1949, began operations in Israel in 1950. To say it has perpetuated and exacerbated the so-called refugee problem would be an understatement. UN Secretary General Guterres’s outrageous statement in itself is more than enough. Kick them out. The time to act is now.