Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

UNRWA head resigns over misconduct allegations

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl denies wrongdoing, saying the aid agency is the victim of a political campaign.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. Source: unrwa.org.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl. Source: unrwa.org.

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced his resignation on Wednesday, following allegations of sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination and other abuses of authority.

The United Nations said in a statement that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl had resigned with immediate effect after an internal investigation uncovered “management issues.” Krähenbühl, a Swiss national, denied all wrongdoing and claimed that the Palestinian aid agency was the victim of a political campaign, Reuters reported on Thursday.

“I have rejected these allegations from the start and will continue to do so,” he said in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS on Wednesday evening. “There is no corruption, fraud or misappropriation of aid.”

The United States and Israel have accused the agency of corruption and anti-Israel incitement.

The bill, which now goes to the president, would cover the whole department except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Ambassador Mike Huckabee is a true hero and friend of the United States, the State of Israel, the Jewish people and all people,” said Rabbi Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University
“Antisemitism is not an abstract concern,” stated Lana Theis, the Republican state senator who introduced the measure. “It’s happening here in Michigan, and it’s happening now.”
Nachum Yisrael Eber, 51 was murdered by members of a local gang, authorities said.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Liem and share in their profound grief,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted to X.
“If we had produced anything like this, I would have been fired the next day,” Benny Polatseck, who worked in the creative communications department at City Hall under the former mayor, told JNS.