What do you know about the United Nations Watch Organization and the Near East Policy Research Center?

United Nations Economic and Social Council (social networking sites)

United Nations Watch is an institution based in the Swiss capital. It was established in 1993 and is unfortunately accredited as a non-governmental institution by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

For many years, this organization operated under the umbrella of the World Jewish Congress and later through the American Jewish Committee, and this tells you a lot!

The Executive Director of this United Nations Watch, Hillel Neuer, is a person of great negative energy, and his first and main obsession is to attack and eliminate UNRWA.

He has great intelligence and energy, and also supervises an international coalition (as he calls it) under the name: “Geneva Summit on Democracy and Human Rights,” which includes 25 non-governmental institutions.

Here lies his strength, influence, and ability to effectively network, a skill we are absent from, even though things for us in this area are constantly improving, especially after October 7.

The second institution, unknown to many, is based in Jerusalem and operates under the name: “Near East Center for Policy Research,” which was established in 1983 and is supervised by a person named David Badin, who considers himself a journalist and is American by birth.

These two institutions are mainly responsible for the seriousness and ferocity of the attack on UNRWA and the right of return, which we are witnessing now.

This center and this person are almost investing all of their efforts and “research” to distort and demonize UNRWA, confirm the danger of the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and convince decision makers - in particular - that UNRWA must be dissolved.

Because it incites hatred, violence, dependency, and prolongs the issue, and that it is a partner in “terrorism,” and that its educational curricula, staff, and teachers aim to destroy the entity.

Unfortunately, over the years, only a handful of Palestinians, no more than the fingers of one hand, have worked with the Center!

“Research”, conferences, “studies”, international meetings, interventions before various United Nations bodies, and systematic use of influence;

With the aim of pressuring and gaining the support of parliaments, decision-makers and politicians around the world, especially the Western world.

Generously allocated funds, renting pens and malicious creation of misleading content and fabrications against UNRWA through videos and writings, and content that tirelessly spews its poison through the media and social media.

These two institutions in particular, for decades, have drawn significant efforts from a very small staff within UNRWA, with whom I have had the privilege of working;

With the aim of exposing their methods and refuting their accusations and lies.

Over the years we have had some successes and unfortunately many failures.

The “International Summit for a Future Without UNRWA,” which UN Watch called for last week, aimed to collect 100,000 signatures on a petition calling for the dismantling of UNRWA, and present it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The campaign was not successful, and due to poor attendance, the “Summit” was converted from a large hall to an adjacent restaurant!

Well, who was the most prominent attendee?

Dennis Ross (Bill Clinton's envoy to the Middle East!), to whom we opened our doors, offices and secrets.

Now, without any need for colour, he fiercely attacked UNRWA, demanding fundamental changes to the agency's body, and at the same time calling for the need to find alternatives to it!

These two institutions are mainly responsible for the seriousness and ferocity of the attack on UNRWA and the right of return, which we are witnessing now.

So, where do we stand in all of this?

Unfortunately and with great sadness, we do not have a centre/body/institution/device, whether official, grassroots, or research, that stands before such organizations as a researcher, defender, or attacker, armed with studies and research, and producing content and various media work, in order to refute the narrative and fabrications of the other party.

There was an attempt more than ten years ago to establish the United Nations Association - Palestine Section, register it, officially approve it, and vote on accepting it as a member of the Union of International United Nations Associations (WUNA), which includes United Nations associations in many countries, including the United Nations. The entity supports the work of the United Nations, demands its correction if necessary, and raises issues of concern to its countries.

Unfortunately I failed in this effort;

Because it requires a collective effort that I was unable to form, and because this attempt collided with the fact that I was working with UNRWA, and such an attempt is considered a violation of the concept of neutrality that United Nations workers are required to enjoy.

It is, therefore, an appeal to all of us to contemplate and consider establishing such an association, and if that is not possible, then at least call for the establishment of the “Friends of UNRWA Association,” and for such an association to begin working to defend UNRWA (with all that it has and owes), and to defend the right of return, and the refugees. Palestinians.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.