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|b Since its foundation in 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency is going through a critical turning point beyond the consequences of previous hard financial dilemmas. Its scope of service and even vital existence are threatened, coming to its symbolic representation of the issue of the Palestinian refugees. In public, the UNRWA’s economic crisis seems to be similar to many incidents. However, there are dark signs of a tremendous deficit of $217 million as well as the recent decision by the US, the top individual donor, to halt $300 million of this year’s fund. Other donors do not seem to be enthusiastic to provide support or respond to the UNRWA’s emergency calls related to the Syrian crisis repercussions and the situation in the Palestinian occupied territories. In addition, the organization itself has lately adopted procedures to reduce the services offered to the refugees, mainly those of education. Such heavy dimensions indicate that Washington’s move is part of the US-Israeli continuing efforts to weaken the UNRWA’s resources, gradually stop its mission and drop the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes from where they were displaced by the 1948 Israeli aggression. That would go in line with regional and international arrangements of the peaceful settlement process conditions in the new version ‘deal of the century’ to liquidate the Palestinian issue. The unfortunate calamity has got three scenarios. Firstly, the UNRWA may overcome the financial crisis. Secondly, the crisis may continue, but with attempts to hold the hosting countries responsible for the cost and burden of the refugees. Thirdly, the US-Israeli pressures may persist to end the organization and transfer its powers to the UNHCR. Although no. 1 is possible, it will not end the dilemma. The US- Israeli adverse attempts can be foiled by the Palestinian leadership and Arab, Islamic support through clinging to the organization’s mission until the return of the Palestinian refugees, in accordance with international resolution 194. Regardless of the three scenarios, the implementation of the right to return depends on the enforceability of the above resolution, which was taken before the foundation of the UNRWA on 8 December 1949, and the other UN resolutions which constitute the umbrella for the establishment under the international and humanitarian laws. As the organization’s mission ends upon the implementation of the right of return, according to the decision of its competence, any assumed US-Israeli efforts’ success will not, in statutory, international or humanitarian terms, lead to the abolition of the right of return. In fact, the UNRWA is a living witness of the Nakba and the numerous crimes of the Israeli occupation since 1948 as well as a symbol of the issue of the Palestinian refugees.
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