Berri Calls for Arab League Meeting to Fund UNRWA
SOURCE: DAILY STAR
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri Monday called for an Arab League meeting to garner funds for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, a Parliament statement reported, after the United States’ recent decision to cut its funding for the agency.
“We have money we can support the Palestinian people with, for steadfastness and unity,” Berri was quoted as saying in the statement.
Berri’s comments were made after he met with Palestinian factions at his Ain al-Tineh residence, and a day after Lebanon condemned the U.S. funding cuts to UNRWA, which provides education and social services to some 5 million people across the region.
“The U.S. decisions… starting from the decision to move the embassy to occupied Jerusalem and ending with the cutting of funds to UNRWA, is heading towards cancelling the right of return for Palestinians and [dismissing] the Palestinian case,” Berri said.
The meeting with the delegation, which included Palestinian Ambassador Ashraf Dabbour, was held in light of a “national unity” document signed by Lebanese and Palestinian officials, to reaffirm the policy of non-interference of Palestinians in internal Lebanese affairs and the protection of the Palestinian identity.
On Sunday, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry also called for an “emergency meeting” of the Arab League, including host and donor nations to UNRWA, on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
