Interior Minister proposes municipal tax for closed UNRWA office in Jerusalem

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel has called on Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion to start collecting municipal taxes from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) office in Jerusalem.

The Minister argued that with UNRWA's office closure, the agency lost its tax-exempt status. The mayor's office confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter before receiving the minister's letter.

A few days ago, UNRWA's management decided to shut down its Jerusalem branch due to inadequate protection from Israeli authorities, amidst frequent aggressive demonstrations at the office entrance.

In February 2024, Minister of Construction Yitzchak Goldknopf instructed the Israel Land Administration to immediately close UNRWA offices in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.

In an official letter to Israel Lands Authority Director General Yankee Quint, the Minister accused UNRWA of supporting Hamas, involvement in the October 7 massacre, and aiding Palestinians in attacking Israel for years.