Biden-Harris envoy is accused of pressuring Israeli lawmakers to drop a bill banning a UN agency linked to terrorism

As the Israeli Knesset prepares to debate a bill aimed at severing ties with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), US pressure on Israeli lawmakers against the bill is expected to increase.

Fox News Digital has learned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leaders including Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman have received calls from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew to stop the proposed laws.

Current legislation aims to terminate all relations between UNRWA and the Jewish state, including the granting of diplomatic visas to UNRWA staff and other services provided by the State of Israel.

“There is a difference between dialogue and pressure,” said Julia Malinowski about the ambassador’s alleged interference. Malinovsky is a Knesset representative from the Yisrael Beiteinu party and one of the authors of the law.

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She told Fox News Digital: “UNRWA is a terrorist organization and Hamas is an integral part of it. Their existence perpetuates the conflict.”

Expressing her determination to ensure the legislation moves forward, she claimed: “About half of UNRWA staff are affiliated with Hamas, and the first weapons found at UNRWA were found in 2014. They were involved in the October 7 massacre. This agency is part of the problem of maintaining refugee status for the benefit of its workers.”

According to a copy of the letter published by Axios, the Biden administration sent a letter to Israeli leaders last week calling on Israel to take action to improve the terrible humanitarian conditions in Gaza within 30 days or delivery of US weapons to Israel. In the letter, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that passing the law against UNRWA at a critical time would have a devastating impact on humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip and prevent education and social services for tens of thousands of Palestinians in Jerusalem.

They emphasized that this could also be a violation of US laws.

US Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew speaks at the opening ceremony of an inter-parliamentary friendship group between the Knesset and the US House of Representatives to strengthen US-Israel relations in the Israeli Knesset. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS)

“For political reasons, we do not comment on private diplomatic conversations,” a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, referring to phone calls allegedly made by the U.S. ambassador to Israeli politicians.

However, the spokesman noted that the involvement of UNRWA personnel on October 7 was “reprehensible,” prompting the US to halt funding and “hold those involved accountable and call for UNRWA reforms to address serious concerns.” the involvement of their facilities and personnel in terrorist activities.

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“At the same time,” they added, “UNRWA provides vital services in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan – including humanitarian assistance, health and sanitation. “The upcoming legislation would make UNRWA’s work impossible and leave a vacuum that would then leave Israel responsible for adding to the already existing humanitarian crisis, undermining stability and security for Israel and the region.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Ambassador to the World Body Linda Thomas-Greenfield made clear the Biden administration's concerns about the upcoming legislation at the U.N. Security Council, telling council members: “We are following with great concern Israel's proposed legislation that would amend UNRWA could.” This hinders communication with Israeli officials and removes privileges and immunities granted to UN organizations and personnel around the world.

The empty hall of the Israeli Knesset in Israel on June 27, 2022. (Ilia Yefimovich/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

These concerns come amid mounting criticism from various countries and the United Nations that blame Israel for a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly two million people have been displaced since the war began.

Despite US pressure, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a statement to Fox News Digital: “UNRWA played an active role in the brutal massacre on October 7th. From its institutions, terrorist attacks were launched against Israel, hostages were held, and young women were raped.”

Lapid has supported the closure of UNRWA since 2013 and maintains his position despite diplomatic pressure.

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Yisrael Beiteinu Party leader Avigdor Lieberman also made his stance clear after the US ambassador raised the issue, telling Fox News Digital: “Messages have come in, but I strongly reject this. “This law is vital to Israel’s security.” it is being brought forward.”

He expressed his full support for his party member's initiative and reiterated that the law aims to separate Israel from an organization linked to terrorism.

A UN vehicle enters the UNRWA offices in Jerusalem on April 2, 2024. (Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS)

Prime Minister Netanyahu's office told Fox News Digital it was confirmed that “the proposed law has not been taken off the table and is being discussed in the Knesset.”

Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency said in a discussion last week in the Knesset that “UNRWA poses a threat to Israel's national security.”

Jonathan Conricus, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and retired IDF lieutenant colonel, said: “As an Israeli, I cannot understand Israel's policy or lack thereof towards the organization. Lawmakers and diplomats raise concerns about why they donate money to UNRWA, allow the deployment of staff and provide diplomatic protection. This Israeli legislation is the bare minimum.

“For a better reality in the Middle East, UNRWA must eventually be completely disbanded from Gaza and all other operational locations.”

Yonatan Samerano, 21, was taken hostage and killed by Hamas terrorists after the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel. His body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza. (Take her home now)

The parents of Yonatan Samerano, whose son is being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists, said in a statement: “In recent days, pressure has been exerted by the United States on members of the government to oppose the law by Yulia Malinovsky, Dan Illouz and others .” Yoav Bismuth should expel UNRWA from Israel.

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The testimony of Kobi and Eilat Samerano continued. “We call on all members of the government to urgently pass the law in the Knesset. Otherwise, you will be complicit in the kidnapping of our son, Yonatan Samerano, who was kidnapped by a UNRWA worker. Over a hundred UNRWA personnel were involved in the massacre.” Cursed day, and your capitulation to diplomatic pressure makes you accomplices to the massacre.

Although the law's proponents come from different political parties, some members of the Israeli government have expressed concerns about the law's passage, calling it “extreme” and suggesting that it be delayed until after the upcoming US elections.