Letzte Aktualisierung am 31. Oktober 2024 durch Thomas Morvay
Seit Anfang Oktober hat die Schweiz – turnusgemäss – erneut den Vorsitz im UN-Sicherheitsrat inne. Die Diplomaten, unter der Botschafterin Pascale Baeriswyl, haben nun eine diplomatische Initiative zum Flüchtlingshilfwerk für die Palästinenser unternommen – wohl nicht zufällig in der Form einer Presseerklärung.
Dass das Hilfswerk UNRWA unter Dauerbeschuss steht, gar um seinen Fortbestand fürchten muss, ist spätestens seit dem 7. Oktober 2023 ist offensichtlich. Nicht ohne Grund, denn Israel hat eindeutige Nachweise vorgelegt, dass Mitarbeiter der Organisation aktiv am grössten Massaker an Juden seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg beteiligt waren. UNRWA reagiert, wie sie schon immer reagiert hat: Augen zu und durch: “Bauernopfer” bringen – aktuell in der Form der Freistellung von insgesamt 9 Mitarbeitern – aber ansonsten unverändert weiter zu machen! Doch etwas scheint diesmal dennoch anders: es ist nicht mehr zu leugnen, das die wohl strukturell bedingten Probleme des Hilfswerks grundsätzliche Fragen aufwerfen. Nach bald zwei Jahrzehnten scheint die Botschaft ihre Adressaten zu erreichen: ein “weiter so” kann es nicht geben.
Die neueste Manifestation dieser Entwicklung: im israelischen Parlament, der Knesset, sind am Montagabend zwei Gesetze verabschiedet worden, welche die Tätigkeit von UNRWA in Israel faktisch verbieten. Es ist dies die konsequente Fortführung eines der erklärten Kriegsziele in Gaza, die durch Hamas-Terroristen verseuchte Organisation zu verunmöglichen. Am Mittwoch nun die Antwort: anlässlich eines Treffens hochrangiger Vertreter in Riad sprach der Schweizer Generalsekretär der UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, von einer andauernden Kampagne zur Diskreditierung und Delegitimierung der Bedeutung seiner Organisation:
The vote by the Knesset against UNRWA this week is outrageous and sets a dangerous precedent.
Rede von Philippe Lazzarini – am 30. Oktober 2024, in Riad
It is the latest in an ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role in providing human-development and assistance to Palestine Refugees.
Israeli government officials have openly called for dismantling UNRWA. They made it an objective of the war in Gaza, in defiance of the General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and of the International Court of Justice, including with a plan to replace UNRWA in East Jerusalem with settlements.
These bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians.
These bills are not only against UNRWA; they are also against the Palestinians and their aspirations.
We are witnessing a deliberate attempt to unilaterally shift the long-established parameters for a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Und, in der eher ungewohnten Form eines Presse-Statements, meldete sich auch der UN-Sicherheitsrat zu Wort:
The members of the Security Council emphasized the vital role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees through essential education, health, relief and social services programmes and emergency assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic.
Presseerklärung vom 30. Oktober 2024
The members of the Security Council underscored that UNRWA remains the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, and affirmed that no organization can replace or substitute UNRWA’s capacity and mandate to serve Palestinian refugees and civilians in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
The members of the Security Council strongly warned against any attempts to dismantle or diminish UNRWA’s operations and mandate, recognizing that any interruption or suspension of its work would have severe humanitarian consequences for millions of Palestinian refugees who depend on the Agency’s services and also implications for the region.
The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern over legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset. In this regard, they urged the Israeli Government to abide by its international obligations, respect the privileges and immunities of UNRWA and live up to its responsibility to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms into and throughout the entire Gaza strip, including the provision of sorely needed basic services to the civilian population.
The members of the Security Council demanded to all parties to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation, with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and to respect international humanitarian law including the protection of UN and humanitarian facilities.
The members of the Security Council highlighted the findings of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, led by Catherine Colonna, and welcomed the Secretary General’s and the Agency’s commitment to fully implement its recommendations and called for their accelerated implementation, in line with UNRWA’s commitment to the principle of neutrality.
They took note of the measures taken to terminate the employment of nine UNRWA staff members following the attacks of 7 October 2023. They underscored the importance to take timely measures to address any credible allegations and to ensure accountability for any violations of the Agency’s policies related to the principle of neutrality.
The members of the Security Council called upon all parties to take necessary steps to allow and facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The members of the Security Council expressed appreciation for the work of the staff of the Agency, including in very dire circumstances, in fulfilment of the Agency’s mandate, underscored the importance of ensuring the continuity of UNRWA’s vital services to Palestinian refugees and recognized Member States’ efforts to enhance their support to UNRWA.
In der Sache mag man sich hier unterschiedlich positionieren. Bemerkenswert ist aber zweifellos die Bemühung der Schweizer Diplomatie, die Automatismen von gegenseitigen Vetos im UN-Sicherheitsrat zu durchbrechen. Es wird hoffentlich zu einem Weckruf an die Mitgliedsstaaten, die maroden gewordenen Strukturen und die Konstruktionsfehler der Vereinten Nationen zu adressieren und allenfalls zu reformieren.
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