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For News & Alerts
Jared Kushner
THE U.S. SCENE
ON THIS PAGE:
MORE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
• More Aid Cuts Endanger Lives
• Trying to Change Refugees’ Status; Shutting Down Refugee
Agency in East Jerusalem
• Deal of the Century?
• Closing PLO Offices, Expelling Diplomats
• Alarming Appointment: Kenneth Marcus
More from the Trump Administration
Download 2018 Review: Part One –
Download 2018 Review: Part Two –
The Big Stories of 2018
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Read these sections of
Part Two on our website:
• The Top Stories
• People in the Spotlight
• Events IN Israel/Palestine
• U.S. Scene: Anti-Zionism, Anti-Semitism
• U.S. Scene: More from Trump Admin
• U.S. Scene: On Campus
• U.S. Scene: Legislation- State, Federal
• U.S. Scene: Changes on the Horizon
• Around the World
• Successes: BDS & More
• Last, But Not Least
• For Information Junkies
The Nakba, (the catastrophe), the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948
News & Analysis UMKR News & Alerts
More Aid Cuts Endanger Lives
As if the devastating cuts to UNRWA’s funding were not bad enough, the Trump administration also cut other U.S. sources of aid for Palestinians. Funding from USAID - the US Agency for Internal Development - also was eliminated, thereby affecting many organizations that assist Palestinians with food, medical aid, housing needs, community infrastructure, and education. The World Food Programme will cut back aid to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. US projects for sewage, schools and other basic needs will go unfinished. East Jerusalem hospitals, including the Lutheran hospital Augusta Victoria, suffered cuts that could endanger patients’ lives if unique services that cannot be obtained at other hospitals in the West Bank are eliminated.
READ MORE
The Independent: Trump administration cuts more than $200m in aid to Palestinians, didn’t say where money will go
The Guardian: Its a death sentence Palestinians in Jerusalem brace for Trump aid cuts
Mondoweiss: With no US funding World Food Programme cuts aid to Palestinians in West Bank Gaza
NPR: Palestinian School And Sewage Projects Unfinished As US Cuts Final Bit Of Aid
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP): Further US aid cuts threaten to deepen Gaza humanitarian emergency
Haaretz: Trump's Palestinian Aid Cuts Means Thousands Lose Access to Food and Healthcare
Living Lutheran: Proposed funding cuts endanger life-saving care at LWF hospital
Mondoweiss: Why do the sick people have to pay the price of political conflict; East Jerusalem hospitals respond
Trying to Change Refugees’ Status;
Shutting Down Refugee Agency
in East Jerusalem
A story closely related to the US cutting its funding for
UNRWA, the agency that provides vital aid to millions of
Palestinian refugees, has not gotten nearly as much attention.
The Trump administration would like to strip the Palestinian
refugees of their refugee status. It is unclear how much
support the U.S. could get internationally; it is unlikely
the United Nations would actually follow through on that
policy. But the suggestion that Palestinian refugees –
who have waited for decades for the world community
to enforce its own laws and hold Israel accountable for
war crimes committed against these refugees – is an
example of just how outrageously the Trump
administration is prepared to act.
Not surprisingly, the Israeli
government is fully in favor.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said
UNRWA is “perpetuating” the
plight of refugees and that by
pulling funding, the US is “finally
beginning to solve the problem.
It is a very important thing. We
have to cancel the refugee
institution, we have to take the money and really help to rehabilitate the refugees, whose real number is only a tiny fraction of the number reported by UNRWA.”
With the encouragement of the Trump administration’s recognition of all of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, move of the U.S. embassy, the elimination of US funding for UNRWA (see all those stories in Top Stories of 2018), and now also the U.S. attempts to change the refugees’ status, the Israeli government is trying to do just as Netanyahu described: “cancel the refugee institution [UNRWA]” at least in East Jerusalem, where the Israelis believe they now have carte blanche to do what they will.
BACKGROUND
The refugees’ cause is one of the unshakeable pillars in the global struggle for Palestinian rights and one of the three stated goals of the BDS campaign. The other two goals are ending Israel’s military occupation and equal rights for Palestinian citizens of Israel. All of these goals could be obtained by a two-state, one-state or other solution.
Ironically, it may actually prove helpful that the Trump administration is forcing the world to acknowledge the Palestinian refugees and the unique situation that exists today, that there are so many of them, including the generations of their children and grandchildren who are also legally and justifiably classified as refugees - a situation created entirely by Israel.
When the war of 1948-49 that followed Israel’s declaration of statehood had ended, and 700,000 to 800,000 refugees were ready to return home, Israel refused them that right, shot some who tried, and destroyed 400 or more villages within the new state of Israel to ensure that they would not have homes to return to, an egregious war crime. That was the only way Israel could have created a Jewish majority in their new state: a clear example of the racism that embedded was the core of the Zionist movement that produced Israel, a racism that necessitated ethnic cleansing for the creation of a Jewish-majority state. Although racism and ethnic cleansing are more widely and publicly embraced in Israeli society today, contrary to much recent liberal Zionist commentary, these trends are not a new phenomenon that betrays the roots of Zionism. Those characteristics are essential to any settler colonialist enterprise and Zionism has not been an exception.
READ MORE
ABOUT UNRWA AND REFUGEES
UNRWA: Facts on Palestine refugees
UNRWA: Frequently Asked Questions -
including who qualifies as a Palestinian refugee
NY Times: The UNs Palestinian Refugee
Agency What It Does and Why It Matters
NBC News: For weary Palestinians US decision
to end refugee funding just latest setback
Palestine Chronicle: Netanyahu Praises US for
Axing UNRWA Funding VIDEO
ENDING PALESTINIAN REFUGEE STATUS
The State of Palestine, PLO: Implementation of UN Resolution 194/ International Support to UNRWA Is a Must
Maan News: Israel to remove UNRWA to “end lie of Palestinian refugee problem”
Times of Israel: Kushner said pushing to close UNRWA end refugee status for Palestinian millions
The National: Trump officials asked Jordan to end refugee status for two million Palestinians
The Arab Weekly: US-Israeli strategy to end Palestinian refugee status is illegal
+972 Magazine: Politicizing Palestinian refugees wont make them go away
SHUTTING DOWN UNRWA IN EAST JERUSALEM
Jerusalem Post: The power struggle between Israel and UNRWA in Jerusalems refugee camp
Mondoweiss: UNRWA condemns Jerusalem mayor’s plan to shut down agency in East Jerusalem
Waiting for "the Deal of the Century"
Throughout 2018, we kept hearing that the Trump Administration would soon be announcing a remarkable peace plan, which Trump optimistically dubbed "the deal of the century." It has been spearheaded by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner (top photo), together with the U.S. Mideast Envoy, Jason Greenblatt. But delay after delay, along with leaks of what it might contain, has dampened any international enthusiasm that might ever have existed.
In December, Netanyahu called for an Israeli election in the spring of 2019, which will probably further delay the unveling of the peace plan, possibly until after those elections. Trump's support for Netanyahu has been enormous, and he is expected to comply with the latter's preference in the timing of that unveiling.
During questioning before Congress, Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, would not confirm that they still supported the "two-state solution," which has had broad international support for decades, and admitted that the new peace plan would not lie within old "parameters."He also said the plan would be "grounded in the facts on the ground and a realistic assessment of what would get us a good outcome."
That is not promising news. It has been explicit Israeli policy for decades to flagrantly violate international law as they alter the facts on the ground in the occupied territories, in the hopes of making those changes unalterable. Deriving a peace plan from the current facts on the ground, if that does not include an equal emphasis on of the principles of universal human rights and international law, should be considered a no-starter for any peace negotiations.
Virtually no one on any side of these issues doubts that the plan, if and when unveiled, will hugely favor Israel’s wishes. It is expected to offer the Palestinians economic incentives in lieu of obtaining their human and political rights under international law. The other actions of the Trump administration, such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the U.S. embassy there, closing the PLO's embassy in Washington DC, trying to change the refugee status of Palestinian refugees and shut down UNRWA, cutting off other US aid to Palestinians...the growing list of destructive, anti-Palestinian Trump administration actions are seen as heavy-handed efforts to force Palestinian leaders and their people to accept the unacceptable. They are more likely to have killed any chances of success for a Trump peace plan before it arrives, if in fact it ever does.
READ MORE
NBC News: Kushner says Trump's 'deal of the century' Mideast peace plan will be unveiled soon
Times of Israel: Pompeo says Trump peace plan will discard old ‘parameters’
NY Times: The Mideast Peace Plan Is Nearly Finished. Is It Dead on Arrival?
NY Times: Trump Vows to Release Mideast Peace Plan Within 4 Months
The Atlantic: Jared Kushner’s Middle East Fantasy
Bloomberg: Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan Makes Palestinians Disappear
Carnegie Endowment: Trump’s Plan for Israel and Palestine: One More Step Away From Peace
New York Magazine: Trump’s Mideast Peace Plan: Intimidate the Palestinians Into Surrender
The Guardian: Israeli minister dismisses Trump peace plan as 'waste of time'
The Intercept: Even Israeli Officials Are Warning That Trump’s Moves Against Palestinians May Backfire
Closing PLO Offices, Expelling Diplomats
Seemingly determined to shut down all practical avenues to finding mutual ground with Palestinian leaders, in September, President Trump closed the Washington DC office of the PLO, the Palestine Liberation Organization which is the official representative of the Palestinian people at the UN and internationally. Also expelling those diplomats from the U.S., Trump gave the rationale that the PLO "has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.” But it was clear that a big part of the motivation was the Palestinian action of going to the International Criminal Court and asking for an investigation into possible war crimes by Israel, related to the Great March of Return. Palestinian leaders described Trump’s action in closing the PLO office as "a declaration of war on efforts to bring peace to our country and the region.”
READ MORE
Reuters: Trump administration takes aim at International Criminal Court, PLO
Washington Post: U.S. to close Palestinian office in Washington, citing lack of progress on peace process with Israel
The New Yorker: Trump Shutters the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission—and Middle East Peace
Al Jazeera: Trump administration announces closure of Washington PLO office
LA Times: Trump's latest step backward on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: shutting down the PLO's Washington office
Mondoweiss: ‘Collective punishment’ and ‘blackmail’: Palestinians decry Trump decision to shutter PLO office in Washington
Alarming Appointment: Kenneth Marcus
Another example of the Trump Administration's antipathy to Palestinian rights and disregard for Americans' constitutional rights: the appointment of a man so deeply unsuitable for a civil rights position. In June, Kenneth Marcus was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. His track record and testimony should have totally disqualified him for a position where he would be responsible to champion the cause of civil rights on campuses.
Marcus' history includes:
- Suing faculty he disagrees with intellectually and categorically condemning student protest.
- Opposition to the movement to combat sexual assault on campuses.
- Calling a student government resolution to divest from arms dealers, private prisons, and fossil fuels “antisemitic” and “anti-white.”
- Advocating for a pro-Israel litmus test for funding Middle Eastern Studies departments.
There is an ongoing battle for free speech about Israel/Palestine on U.S. college campuses in which Marcus has been personally involved. Kenneth Marcus is a former Israel lobbyist who led the misnamed Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which is an Israel "lawfare" group. For years he promoted a strategy to abuse civil rights law to suppress campus criticism of Israel, alleging that activism for Palestinian rights creates an antisemitic climate for Jewish students, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The DOE repeatedly dismissed complaints based on Marcus’ strategy, affirming that advocacy for Palestinian rights is protected by the First Amendment. Now that Marcus himself leads that Civil Rights division at the DOE, he will have broad powers to enact that strategy.
See our report about Marcus' actions after taking office, in the "On Campus" report from this newsletter.
United Methodists are responding to Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth ,a statement of faith and urgent call to action from Christians in Palestine. UMKR seeks, through nonviolent means and in partnership with Palestinian Christians, freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
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UNRWA school
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VIDEO - Arab American Institute (AAI):
Kenneth Marcus is Wrong for the Office of Civil Rights
Palestine Legal: Kenneth Marcus, Anti-Palestinian Crusader, Confirmed to Head Civil Rights Office under DeVos at U.S. Dept. of Education
Electronic Intifada: How Trump’s new civil rights enforcer will attack civil rights
Jewish Voice for Peace: JVP is Deeply Concerned as Controversial Kenneth Marcus Confirmed to Office of Civil Rights
Mondoweiss: Trump nominee Kenneth Marcus seeks to undermine the very rights he’d be enforcing
Arab American Institute: Arab American Civil Rights Group Responds to Confirmation of Kenneth Marcus
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ABOUT OUR NEWS SOURCES
The articles we include in our lists to 'Read More' – in our newsletters and on our website – are provided as an informational service for our readers, and the views expressed may or may not be shared by UMKR.
Some selections may be repetitive;because some periodicals have paywalls, we provide a variety of sources in the hope that every reader will find some of them accessible, with or without a subscription.
ABOUT OUR NEWS SOURCES
The articles we include in our lists to 'Read More' – in our newsletters and on our website – are provided as an informational service for our readers, and the views expressed may or may not be shared by UMKR.
Some selections may be repetitive;because some periodicals have paywalls, we provide a variety of sources in the hope that every reader will find some of them accessible, with or without a subscription.
Kenneth Marcus