The United Arab Emirates pledged Thursday to give $15 million to efforts to help rebuild the Palestinian city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank following a major Israeli operation there earlier this week, Emirati state media reported on Thursday.
The UAE will provide the funds to the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA to support the latter’s operations and provide assistance to Palestinian families. The funds are “intended to rehabilitate the losses that have occurred in Jenin and its camp, after the recent Israeli attacks that have had repercussions on thousands of people,” according to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM).
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed informed UNRWA secretary-general Philippe Lazzarini of the pledge in a phone call on Wednesday. The funding will be administered via a joint account in the UAE and came at the direction of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, according to WAM.
Background: After Israel carried out its largest raid in the West Bank in decades earlier this week, many of Jenin's roads and homes were left in ruins. The raid, aimed at cracking down on Palestinian militants following an uptick in attacks against Israelis in both Israel and the West Bank (as well as increased Israeli settler violence towards Palestinians in the latter), killed at least 13 Palestinians and one Israeli.
