Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is concerned by today’s announcement that Canada will be increasing its funding to UNRWA despite ongoing questions about the agency's accountability and transparency and continuing reports of antisemitic incitement being taught to Palestinian students in UNRWA-funded schools.

While we value and support Canada’s commitment to humanitarian aid efforts, especially during the pandemic, FSWC urges Canada to take a leadership role in pushing for the reform of UNRWA, including a re-working of the organization’s core mandate which perpetuates Palestinian rejectionism and undermines the prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

FSWC also calls on the government to appoint a dedicated enforcement officer, to be stationed in Canada’s Representative Office in Ramallah, who would oversee the use of Canadian taxpayer funds allocated to UNRWA, to ensure that all due diligence measures are being respected.