Date: Dec.26,2024
During a Meeting with the Japanese Ambassador
Dr. Ahmed Abu Holi Appreciates Japan’s Support for Palestine and Stresses the Irreplaceable Role of UNRWA
Dr. Ahmed Abu Holi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, received Japan’s new Ambassador to Palestine, Mr. Araiki Katsuhiko, along with his accompanying delegation at the department’s headquarters today, Thursday. The delegation included the Chief Representative of JICA in Palestine, Mr. Mitsutaka Hoshi, the First Secretary and Head of Economic Development at the embassy, Mr. Yusuke Tabuchi, as well as key members of the Refugee Affairs Department: Deputy Anwar Hamam, international relations expert Mai Odeh, local expert for the Camp Improvement Project Fadia Khateeb, and the Director of the Chairman’s Office, Abdel Kareem Al-Ajrami.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Abu Holi congratulated the ambassador on his new role representing Japan in Palestine, expressing gratitude to the Japanese government for its ongoing and significant support for Palestine. He highlighted Japan’s recent contribution of $100 million in aid in response to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the worsening economic conditions in the West Bank. He noted that this demonstrates Japan’s ongoing commitment to the Palestinian people’s rights and their just cause.
Discussing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Dr. Abu Holi praised Japan’s consistent support for the agency, which he described as a lifeline for Gaza and Palestinian refugees. He also expressed appreciation for Japan’s concern over Israeli laws aimed at restricting UNRWA’s activities, revoking its privileges and immunities, and emphasized the need to stop the war in Gaza.
Dr. Abu Holi reaffirmed that UNRWA is irreplaceable, as it operates under a mandate from the UN General Assembly in accordance with Resolution 302. He emphasized that the agency’s expertise, personnel, databases, logistics, and established centers and institutions cannot be substituted in any way. He called on the Japanese government to exert more pressure on Israeli authorities to stop implementing the laws passed by the Israeli Knesset, which constitute a clear violation of the UN Charter and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.
On his part , Ambassador Araiki Katsuhiko confirmed Japan’s commitment to the two-state solution and its recognition of UNRWA’s vital role in supporting Palestinian refugees. He noted that Japan has conveyed its position on UNRWA and other related issues to the Israeli side in prior meetings.
The ambassador also highlighted the assistance package provided by Japan to the Palestinian people, particularly the Camp Improvement Project, which has successfully developed plans through a comprehensive participatory approach. He mentioned various projects implemented within the camps, such as emergency aid, which aim to improve refugee living conditions. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to continuing its support for the Palestinian people across various fields and expressed readiness to consider new project proposals to address current challenges. The ambassador commended the Department of Refugee Affairs for its efforts in improving refugee conditions and enhancing collaboration through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed on the importance of continuing discussions to enhance cooperation, ensure the success of the Camp Improvement Project, and finalize plans for all Palestinian camps. They also committed to holding further consultations on future projects.
It is worth noting that the Camp Improvement Project, implemented by the Department of Refugee Affairs in partnership with and funded by JICA, is considered a pioneering initiative within the camps. It aims to improve refugee conditions, strengthen their resilience, and provide social benefit . The project has gone through two phases in the West Bank camps. The first phase (2017-2019) covered Aqbat Jaber, Jalazone, and Old Askar camps. The second phase, which spans five years (2020-2025), includes Al-Fawwar, Ein Sultan, Nur Shams, New Askar, Deir Ammar, and Aida camps (both batches). As part of the ongoing second phase, activities have expanded to include Balata, Al-Amari, and Dheisheh camps.
