Einat Wilf at the International Summit for a Future Beyond UNRWA

Summary

The speaker critiques the United Nations' historical support for the establishment of a Jewish state and argues that the UN and associated organizations have perpetuated the refugee status of Palestinians, fueling a narrative of 'right of return' that has led to ongoing conflict. They advocate for a shift in support towards those who renounce the notion of being refugees with a right of return, emphasizing the capability of Palestinians and the need for a change in priorities to achieve peace.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The establishment of a Jewish state was initially supported by the United Nations in 1947, but it is suggested that there has been an effort to retract this support over the years.
• 🤔 The speaker asserts that to understand HRA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), one must recognize it as primarily a Palestinian organization rather than an international aid body.
• ✈️ The analogy of an airplane being hijacked is used to describe how HRA, which began with good intentions to aid Arab refugees, has been transformed to serve a singular cause against the Jewish state.
• 💼 The presence of Westerners in HRA is described as a facade to make it easier for donors to contribute funds, as it is seen as more palatable than giving directly to Palestinians with a different agenda.
• 💰 The speaker argues that for 75 years, funding and aid have been used to perpetuate the myth of the Palestinian refugee status and the belief in a 'right of return', which is seen as a threat to the Jewish state.
• 📜 October 7th is highlighted as a significant date, representing the realization of the Palestinian vision of 'return', which is described as not an innocent concept but one with violent and triumphalist overtones.
• 🚫 The speaker calls for a shift in funding, suggesting that aid should only be given to those who are no longer registered as refugees and do not claim a 'right of return'.
• 🏗️ The speaker advises donor countries to cease all contributions to HRA, especially in areas like Gaza, where the dominant ideology is perceived as hostile to the Jewish state.
• 🌟 October 7th is also presented as an opportunity to redefine the narrative of Palestinians as capable people, rather than as victims perpetually in need of aid.
• 🔄 The core message is to reverse the approach to support, focusing on peace-building and reconciliation rather than perpetuating conflict, by redirecting aid and support to those who renounce violence and the idea of liberating Palestine through conflict.

Q & A

What is the speaker's view on the establishment of a Jewish State in 1947?

The speaker suggests that the United Nations initially supported the establishment of a Jewish State, but has since tried to walk back on that support.

How does the speaker describe the evolution of the HRA?

The speaker describes HRA as initially being a well-intentioned organization aimed at settling Arab refugees, but it was 'hijacked' by the refugees themselves and turned into an organization focused on opposing the Jewish state.

What is the speaker's analogy for understanding HRA?

The speaker uses the analogy of an airplane, which is a useful machine until it is hijacked and used for destructive purposes, to illustrate how HRA started with good intentions but was later misused.

What does the speaker believe is the primary goal of the Palestinian organization?

The speaker believes the primary goal of the Palestinian organization is to ensure that the Jewish state does not have peace until it ceases to exist.

How does the speaker characterize the outer appearance of HRA?

The speaker describes HRA as having a thin layer of Italians and Swiss with well-cut suits who ask for money, suggesting a facade of respectability.

What does the speaker suggest is the perpetuation of the Palestinian refugee myth?

The speaker suggests that the myth of Palestinians being unique refugees from a war that ended 75 years ago is perpetuated by the funding and support they receive, which is tied to the belief in a right of return.

What is the speaker's stance on the concept of 'right of return'?

The speaker views the concept of 'right of return' as not an innocent idea but one that has always been tied to the goal of triumphalism over the Jewish state.

What should replace the HRA according to the speaker?

The speaker believes that what should replace the HRA is a mechanism that only provides support, money, and aid to those who are no longer registered as refugees and do not claim a right of return.

What message does the speaker have for donor countries?

The speaker advises donor countries to stop giving any support or aid to the HRA and to instead support those Palestinians who do not consider themselves refugees and do not aim to liberate Palestine from the river to the sea.

How does the speaker view the Palestinian people's capabilities?

The speaker views the Palestinian people as highly capable, but criticizes their priorities, stating that for a century they have focused on destroying the Jewish State rather than building something for themselves.

What is the speaker's final thought on the matter?

The speaker's final thought is that October 7th should mark the end of viewing Palestinians as a people in need of aid, and instead, it should be a call to support those who are ready to put the war behind them and work towards peace.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Evolution and Misdirection of HRA

This paragraph discusses the historical context and the transformation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (HRA). Initially established with the noble intention of aiding Arab refugees from the 1947 conflict, it has since evolved into an organization primarily serving the Palestinian cause. The speaker likens HRA to an airplane hijacked from its original purpose, emphasizing that funds and support were misdirected towards perpetuating the myth of the 'refugee' status and the concept of 'right of return,' which is seen as a threat to the Jewish state. The speaker advocates for a shift in funding to those who renounce the 'right of return' and disengage from the conflict, promoting peace and the cessation of support for war efforts.

05:00

💡 The Path Forward: Redefining Support and Priorities

The second paragraph emphasizes the need to redirect support away from HRA and towards individuals who no longer identify as refugees or seek the 'right of return.' It calls for an end to the narrative of Palestinians as incapable people in constant need of aid, highlighting their capabilities and the strategic planning behind their goals. The speaker argues that the Palestinian people have focused their efforts on the destruction of the Jewish state rather than building their own future. To achieve peace, the international community must reevaluate its support, prioritizing those who are committed to peace and not those who perpetuate conflict.

Keywords

💡United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among member countries. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that in 1947, the UN supported the establishment of a Jewish state, which has been a contentious issue ever since. The UN's role is pivotal as it relates to the broader narrative of international relations and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

💡Palestinian organization

A Palestinian organization refers to a group or entity that primarily represents the interests of the Palestinian people. In the video, it is suggested that the original intent of such organizations was to assist Arab refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, but over time, they have allegedly become more focused on opposing the existence of Israel rather than aiding refugees. This term is central to understanding the speaker's argument about the evolution and current focus of certain Palestinian organizations.

💡Hijacked

In the context of the video, 'hijacked' metaphorically describes how an original plan or intention is taken over and used for a different, often opposing, purpose. The speaker uses this term to argue that the initial goals of certain organizations or agreements have been subverted to serve a singular cause against the Jewish state.

💡Arab Palestinian

The term 'Arab Palestinian' refers to Palestinians who identify as Arab in terms of ethnicity and culture. In the video, this term is used to emphasize the speaker's view that the focus of certain Palestinian organizations has shifted from aiding refugees to pursuing a political agenda against Israel.

💡Refugees

Refugees are individuals who have been forced to leave their home country due to war, persecution, or natural disaster. In this video, the speaker discusses the narrative of Palestinians as refugees, emphasizing the belief in a 'right of return' and the perpetuation of the refugee status, which is seen as problematic for achieving peace and resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

💡Right of return

The 'right of return' is a principle that asserts the right of refugees to return to their original homes. In the context of the video, this concept is portrayed as a driving force behind the ongoing conflict, with the speaker arguing that it has been used to maintain a narrative that is detrimental to peace efforts.

💡Legitimacy

Legitimacy refers to the recognition and acceptance of the legality or validity of something. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of redirecting legitimacy and support to those who do not claim a 'right of return' and are willing to move beyond the refugee status. This shift in legitimacy is seen as crucial for achieving a different outcome in the conflict.

💡DNI

DNI likely refers to a Displaced Persons International organization, which would be responsible for managing and supporting displaced individuals. In the video, the speaker mentions DNI as a potential alternative to the current system, suggesting that it should only provide support to those who have been removed from refugee rosters and do not claim a 'right of return'.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures, facilities, and systems needed for the operation of a society or organization. In the video, the speaker mentions the need for massive investment in infrastructure as part of the Palestinians' planning for October 7th, indicating the importance of such development for achieving their goals.

💡Vision

Vision in this context refers to a clear and long-term plan or strategy. The speaker contrasts a 'perverse vision' of using resources for conflict with the need for a positive vision focused on building and developing a society. The term is used to emphasize the importance of having a constructive and peaceful direction for the future.

Highlights

The 1947 United Nations support for a Jewish State and the subsequent efforts to retract this support.

The characterization of HRA (UNRWA) as primarily a Palestinian organization.

The analogy of an airplane being hijacked to describe the transformation of HRA's original intentions.

The claim that HRA has become an organization promoting a singular cause against the Jewish state.

The presence of a thin layer of Western intermediaries in HRA who request funding for the organization.

The argument that HRA perpetuates the myth of Palestinians as uniquely perpetual refugees.

The assertion that Western and global legitimacy, funding, and aid have been used to uphold the myth of the refugee status and the right of return.

The call for a new mechanism that only provides support to those who are no longer registered as refugees and renounce the right of return.

The emphasis on the need to redirect funding away from perpetuating the refugee status and towards building a future without the right of return.

The argument that the people of Gaza should not receive aid as long as their ideology is focused on liberating Palestine from the river to the sea.

The assertion that donor countries are told not to give any aid to HRA, especially in Gaza.

The idea that October 7th signifies the realization of the Palestinian vision of return, which is not an innocent concept.

The claim that all money supported the violent and triumphalist vision of return over 75 years.

The suggestion that the replacement of HRA is not the main issue, but rather the need to reverse the flow of support to those who do not identify as refugees.

The assertion that Palestinians are a capable people with misplaced priorities focused on destroying the Jewish state.

The argument that any funding given to Palestinians will be used for the destruction of the Jewish state as long as their ideology remains unchanged.

The call for peace and support for those who want to put the war behind them, rather than those who wish to continue the fight.

Transcripts

sometimes I Riley joke that in 1947 the

United Nations let it slip that it

supported the establishment of a Jewish

State and it has spent all the years

since trying to walk that back um we

will never understand HRA unless we

understand that it's first and foremost

a Palestinian organization I sometimes

say that if you want to understand HRA

think about an airplane which is a

lovely machine until it gets hijacked

and flown into a building in the same

way HRA like ad described started with

the best of intentions to settle Arab

refugees from the war was hijacked by

the Arab refugees themselves to become a

purely Arab Palestinian Organization for

the singular cause of ensuring that the

Jewish state knows not a day of peace

until it is undone this is what Andra is

it has a thin layer of Italians and

swiss with beautifully cut suit who ask

for money because it's very difficult to

give money to a Palestinian who will

tell you from the river to the Sea it's

much easier to give it to a nice

speaking Italian so what do we do HRA is

a classic case of you get what you pay

for so we need to make sure that we pay

for something else for 75 years money

legitimacy Support Services Aid were

given were funneled to the perpetuation

of the myth that Palestinians are still

uniquely from all the tens of millions

of refugees throughout the 20th century

that they are still refugees from a war

that we think ended 75 years ago but

they don't think it ends until they win

it to their cause of no Jewish state so

all the Western legitimacy the global

legitimacy the funding the aid the

services were funneled to the

perpetuation of the myth of the refugee

status and to the belief in the

fictional idea of a right of return

unless we think return is an innocent

idea of just feelings of nostalgia to a

home that belonged to a great

grandparent and where today is Israel

October 7th is return October 7th is the

realization of the Palestinian vision of

return it was never an innocent idea it

always had the element of violent brutal

triumphalism over the Jewish state so

all the money supported that for 75

years so what we need to ask right now

is not who will replace HRA

that doesn't matter what what will

replace hre and What needs to replace

hre is any mechanism that only funnels

legitimacy support money Aid to those

who are taken off H res rosters those

who are no longer registered as refugees

those who sign and make it clear that

they understand that they're not

refugees and that they possess no such

right of return only then can something

be built a dni are under record now with

books and essays and lectures and

meetings telling donor countries for

years don't give a single dollar don't

give a bag of cement to HRA anywhere and

certainly in Gaza as long as the people

of Gaza

75% of whom are still registered by

unrested refugees from Palestine don't

give them anything as long as their

dominant

ideology is not to think of Gaza as the

home which they wish to make into the

pearl of the Mediterranean the Dubai of

the Levant as long as their ideology is

to literally use Gaza as a Launchpad to

liberate Palestine from the river to the

Sea a dni on record is telling donor

countries you are guaranteed that all

your money your Aid your bags of cement

will go into turning Gaza into a highly

effective War Machine in order to

exercise the brutal vision of

return so this is what we need to say

doesn't matter who replaces HRA what

reverse the equation

legitimacy money aid services will flow

only to individuals who have been

stricken off Andre's rosters if it still

exists and who themselves testify that

they understand that they're not

refugees that they do not possess the

right of return and they have no

intention of liberating Palestine from

The River To The Sea and I want to end

with one thought October 7th should put

an end to the notion of the poor

Palestinians the ones who constantly

need aid aid money

support the Palestinians are a highly

capable people October 7th required

years of planning massive investment in

infrastructure strategy discipline

Vision a perverse Vision but

Vision the pal Palestinians are not an

incapable people they are a people with

terrible priorities for a century they

decided to devote all their substantial

capabilities not to building something

for themselves but in order to destroy

the Jewish State and as long as this is

their

ideology anyone who gives them any kind

of funding Aid and legitimacy is

guaranteed that this will be funneled to

the destruction of the Jewish State and

to continued war and if people really

want peace like H says they really want

to abide by the principles and the

vision of the United Nations reverse the

equations support those who want to keep

to put the war behind us not the on who

want to keep fighting that war thank you