Close to six months after the Knesset passed two laws targeting UNRWA, MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beiteinu reported this morning (Friday) that the law she initiated is now being almost fully implemented—while the other, which seeks to end UNRWA’s activity in East Jerusalem, remains largely stalled.
Malinovsky stated that the law she introduced, which came into effect in January 2025, is being fully enforced: all government authorities and official bodies have cut ties with UNRWA, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has ended cooperation, the Foreign Ministry has revoked visas for UNRWA employees, and Israeli banks have blocked access to all accounts associated with the organization.
The Second Law Still Not Being Enforced
In contrast, the law intended to halt UNRWA’s activity within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel has largely not yet been implemented. UNRWA continues to operate clinics and provide services in Shuafat, and according to Malinovsky, the organization’s main headquarters at Ammunition Hill has not yet been brought under Israeli control.
MK Malinovsky criticized lawmakers behind the second law for failing to monitor its enforcement. She noted that no discussions are being held, no parliamentary queries have been submitted, and the matter has been neglected. According to her, the law’s initiators even admitted publicly that it was primarily declarative in nature.
Pressuring Government Ministries
Despite the full enforcement of her own law, MK Malinovsky continues to push for the implementation of the second. She says she is initiating oversight sessions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, applying pressure on government ministries, and has even taken action on the ground—including a public visit to the UNRWA compound at Ammunition Hill. “UNRWA is a terrorist organization that must disappear from our lives,” she said. “This is not a symbolic battle—it’s about substance.”
