On Saturday, the Independent Review into UNRWA's terror ties will release its report. Donors will then decide if to reinstate funding. Just one problem: the entire investigation is rigged. Let's do a deep dive into who the UN picked, and how they admit it's to “provide cover”: 🧵
2/ Let's start with the inquiry chair. UNRWA chief Lazzarini promised to name an “independent entity.” unwatch.org/unrwa-chief-to… In the end, he chose recently retired French foreign minister Catherine Colonna—just weeks after Lazzarini had showered praise on her, and she on UNRWA.
@MinColonna @UNLazzarini 3/ Note: when on January 13th Catherine Colonna pledged to UNRWA chief Lazzarini “full support for your work,” which she hailed as “more useful than ever,” this was already 3 days after the world learned that 3,000 UNRWA teachers belonged to a group praising the Hamas massacre.
@MinColonna @UNLazzarini 4/ Colonna was a cheerleader for UNRWA. In June, she “reaffirmed France’s support,” saying UNRWA's action is “essential” & “contributes to the region’s stability.” She hailed its “education.” How can she now investigate our repeated warnings that UNRWA teachers promote terrorism?
@MinColonna @UNLazzarini 5/ The feelings were mutual. UNRWA hailed “strong support from France” while Colonna was foreign minister. x.com/unrwa/status/1…. UNRWA specifically praised Colonna and Macron “for their continued political and financial commitment alongside UNRWA”:
@MinColonna @UNLazzarini 5/ The feelings were mutual. UNRWA hailed “strong support from France” while Colonna was foreign minister. x.com/unrwa/status/1…. UNRWA specifically praised Colonna and Macron “for their continued political and financial commitment alongside UNRWA”: https://t.co/xVSVv5x5nw
6/ How can Colonna impartially investigate UNRWA when, likewise, France has showered praise on this agency? See: x.com/search?q=from%… “UNRWA plays an important role in regional stability and remains essential,” said France when Colonna was minister. x.com/franceonu/stat…
6/ How can Colonna impartially investigate UNRWA when, likewise, France has showered praise on this agency? See: x.com/search?q=from%… “UNRWA plays an important role in regional stability and remains essential,” said France when Colonna was minister. x.com/franceonu/stat…
7/ On March 4, France declared total support for “crucial” UNRWA, “an essential contributor to stability of the region,” and for years to come, its mandate “will remain relevant until a political settlement is found to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” onu.delegfrance.org/unrwa-is-at-th…
8/ How can Colonna lead an impartial review? Her lifetime serving the foreign policy of France—a major donor and board member of UNRWA—presents a material conflict of interest. Were she to find UNRWA systematically complicit with terror, she would implicate herself—and France.
@HillelNeuer You can always count on the French to do the pusillanimous thing