Trump Must Continue Aid for Vulnerable Palestinian Refugees

Background:

President Trump has frozen more than $100 million in assistance to Palestinian refugees. The move is a response to disagreements between the Palestinian government and the Trump administration over Trump's unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The bottom line: President Trump is punishing innocent Palestinians -- and endangering Israelis -- over a crisis of his own making.

The suspension of aid to UNRWA, which provides food, schooling, housing and health care to Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East will worsen already critical humanitarian situations in Syria and Gaza and could dangerously destabilize the region. The former spokesperson for the IDF has warned that Trump's actions will make vulnerable populations more susceptible to extremism and violence.

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Tell the Trump administration:

The United Nations Relief Works Agency provides schooling for over 500,000 children and healthcare for over 3.1 million refugees annually. Cutting its funds will devastate refugee populations in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territory. Former IDF Spokesperson Peter Lerner warned earlier this year that weakening UNRWA could lead to a new cycle of violence, destabilizing the region further.

It is vital for Israeli security and Palestinian welfare that the administration resume full funding for UNRWA.