Ocean County Leader

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has strongly criticized the recently released report on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), describing it as "an absolute whitewash aimed at covering up the antisemitism, violence and hate that has poisoned the agency for decades." Smith, who is the Chair of the House Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee, has been a vocal opponent of UNRWA and has authored legislation to ban US funding for the agency.

The report, officially known as the report of the Independent Review Group but widely referred to as the Colonna report after its chief author, has come under fire from Smith for its alleged attempt to deceive and vindicate UNRWA's actions. Smith stated, "the grotesque flaws in the report further underscore how UNRWA apologists have operated with impunity over the years trying to deceive and vindicate the actions of this appalling agency. No one should be fooled."

Smith accused the staff involved in the review of having ties to organizations that have dismissed concerns over UNRWA's association with Hamas and its promotion of antisemitism. He claimed, "Naturally, they produced a 'report' that ignores grave abuses and proposes cosmetic reforms."

In a scathing critique of UNRWA, Smith asserted, "UNRWA remains an unreformable, terror-complicit agency that teaches Palestinian children to hate Jews and glorifies suicidal martyrdom and the evisceration of Israel as a state." He added, "It is a child soldier factory—and no bogus report can change that fact."

Calling for a break from funding UNRWA, Smith emphasized the need to find an alternative that does not support violence, terrorism, and antisemitism. He stated, "It’s long past time for the US and the rest of the world to move beyond this Hamas-ridden UN agency and find an alternative that does not promote, espouse, or affiliate with entities or individuals that advance violence, terrorism and antisemitism."

Smith, who has chaired multiple congressional hearings on UNRWA's alleged antisemitism, has been actively pushing for legislation to stop US funding to the agency. His efforts have already seen elements of his legislation incorporated into law to prohibit US funding for UNRWA for a year.