By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unrwa1blair092209.html
UNITED NATIONS, September 22 -- As the UN Relief and Works Agency prepares to celebrate sixty years of serving refugees from Palestine, its work force has been going on strike in Jordan and South Lebanon, protesting cut backs in pay as well as services. Following criticism of UNRWA for using the Commercial Bank of Syria, which is on U.S. anti-terrorism lists, UNRWA said it would stop using the bank.
But when Inner City Press asked UNRWA chief Karen AbuZayd for an update on September 18, she said that the "Central Bank of Syria" had a monopoly in rural areas and that UNRWA continues to use it. Using the Central Bank of Syria where is was the only one operating. Video here, from Minute 26:49. This was not denied later, after the press conference, by UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness.
Just as UNICEF uses two banks in Iran which are listen in the anti-nuclear resolutions of the UN Security Council, UNRWA appears to act in conflict with terror watch lists. How long will the monopoly last?
Inner City Press also asked AbuZayd for an update on Israel's blockage of cash into the Gaza Strip, and reported imposition of taxes on UNRWA contrary to how the UN is treated elsewhere. She replied that cash is still a problem, taxes less so. They allow in the cash for our salary, 10,000 staff, and for the Palestinian Authority.
On September 22, Inner City Press asked the Quartet's envoy Tony Blair about the issue of money in Gaza. Blair said it is a problem one that he works on.
Unsaid was that Blair also works for JPMorgan Chase Bank, along side his UN work. No one has even explained what safeguards are in place against any conflicts of interest. Watch this site.
