Leftist members of the European Parliament have caused the removal of cameras from a hearing tomorrow that will feature a watchdog group presenting findings concerning UNRWA ties to terrorism.
The Working Group on External Financial Instruments (WG EFIs) of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee will be meeting to address recent allegations against UNRWA staff, including questions around the agency’s impartiality and reputation, as well as possible repercussions from the current investigations.
“I have arrived in Brussels at the invitation of the European Parliament to to present evidence tomorrow concerning UNRWA’s longstanding refusal to take seriously the widespread encouragement and promotion of terrorism by its school teachers, principals and other staff,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based United Nations Watch, an independent non-governmental organization that monitors the world body.
“I was astonished to learn that members of the European Parliament representing the Left Group, the Greens/EFA and the Socialists and Democrats first tried to stop my testimony and the hearing, and when that failed, they have now initiated removal of cameras tomorrow to prevent my words from going public,” said Neuer.
“My understanding is that the removal of cameras is an extremely rare occurrence for this kind of hearing when the invited witness has not made the request, but rather the members of the working group of the foreign affairs committee.”
“Given that EU voters are paying more than 100 million Euro a year to UNRWA, one would think the taxpayers have a right to know how their funds are being used, and what they are funding. Forcing evidence to be hidden contradicts the basic democratic principles of transparency and accountability.”
“United Nations Watch calls on the MEPs from the Left Group, the Greens/EFA and the Socialists and Democrats to reconsider their position, and to allow my testimony to be available to the public.”
