UNRWA Jerusalem Closure: Israel Shuts Final Facility

Israeli police and Border Police forces evacuated UNRWA's vocational training center in northern Jerusalem on Tuesday, marking the closure of the UN agency's final operational facility in the capital. The compound, located near the Kafr Aqab neighborhood and spanning approximately 220 acres, had been used to train hundreds of youth from West Bank refugee camps in various trades.

This marks the seventh time in recent months that security forces have entered the facility, but Tuesday's operation was conducted under direct orders from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who arrived at the scene accompanied by media crews. Dozens of Border Police officers who took control of the premises instructed all staff to evacuate, while simultaneously beginning to remove equipment from the grounds.

The raid came just one day after diplomats from 24 countries, including Germany, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, Britain, Turkey, and Poland, toured the compound.

The Palestinian Authority quickly condemned the action and called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to halt such operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the evacuation, clarifying that it was carried out under his explicit instructions. "The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terror and the October 7 massacre to operate within its territory, and will act against it with all available tools," the prime minister stated.

Decision-makers view the move as a critical step in implementing legislation passed by the Knesset to remove UNRWA from Israeli territory and sever all institutional ties with an organization accused of collaborating with and assisting terrorist elements. However, various government sources expressed dissatisfaction with the manner of the minister's arrival at the site, arguing it turned the event into a media spectacle.

Jerusalem Municipality officials announced an ambitious development plan for the property. According to an official statement released Tuesday morning, rapid renovation of the buildings will begin in the coming days, with a high school for boys serving Kafr Aqab residents set to open next week. Unlike the educational systems operated by UNRWA, the new high school will teach the official Israeli curriculum.

The municipality stated that the site will eventually house a comprehensive educational campus including six educational institutions with 140 classrooms, alongside essential public facilities such as a community center, swimming pool, sports complex, daycare centers, a health clinic, a mosque, and a public park.

Jerusalem Municipality officials further claimed that Kafr Aqab residents themselves requested the opening of the new educational institutions and expressed full support for the initiative. The municipality is preparing to expropriate the land to implement the project for public benefit.

Ownership of the property remains disputed. UNRWA claims the land is leased from the Jordanian government, while Israeli records indicate that portions of the property are owned by the Jewish National Fund and others are privately held. The move represents a significant turning point in reasserting Israeli sovereignty over areas previously considered enclaves of international organizations within the capital city.