The State Department issues statement on UNRWA violations of neutrality

AP reporter Matt Lee tweeted this statement from the State Department:

The role United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) plays in providing critical humanitarian assistance to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees is indispensable. All sides must respect the humanitarian role of UNRWA. and we expect UNRWA personnel to observe the strictest decorum and uphold its stated policy of neutrality so that it can carry out its critical mandate.

Our commitment to overseeing UNRWA’s neutrality is long-standing. and the State Department takes its responsibility for oversight ot UNRWA very seriously. Our oversight is more than an annual checklist exercise; :the State Department closely engages with UNRWA throughout the course of the year on all facets of UNRWA‘s programs, including issues related to the neutrality of UNRWA staff, operations,. and facilities.

We are aware that the UNRWA is undertaking internal investigations into allegations that UNRWA staff posted discriminatory messages on social media accounts. We have asked UNRWAto keep the United States informed of the findings of its investigation.
For any additional details regarding the investigations. we refer you to UNRWA.

Clearly the research I've done (and that UN Watch publicized) is having an effect. which makes it even more interesting that UNRWA-USA is blocking me on Twitter.

Of course, UNRWA's internal investiagation will be a joke, and the State Department does not have the desire to really hold UNRWA's feet to the fire of fulfilling its mandate. This is all theatre that we've seen before - UNRWA will issue a statement that they take these thing seriously, maybe they will slap the wrists of some of the employees that I discovered with the worst antisemitic messages (the state Department pointedly does not mention the pro-terror Facebook posts that I discovered) and then everyone will breathe easier that the status quo has returned. The fundamental problems at UNRWA will not be solved.

But this is start.

UPDATE: There is as of yet nothing on the UNRWA site about this.