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Donald Trump 's administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

The US President will cut the year's first contribution by more than half, or perhaps entirely, and make additional donations contingent on major changes to the organisation, US officials have said.

Mr Trump is yet to make a final decision, but appears more likely to send only $60m (£44m) of the planned $125m (£91m) first instalment to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the officials told the Associated Press.

The US is UNRWA's largest donor, supplying nearly 30 per cent of its total budget.

The agency focuses on providing health care, education and social services to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians either fled or were forced from their homes during the war that led to Israel 's establishment in 1948.

Today, there are an estimated five million refugees and their descendants, mostly scattered across the region.

The plan to withhold some of the money is backed by Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, and James Mattis, the Defence Secretary, who offered it as a compromise to demands for more drastic measures by Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the UN, the officials said.

Ms Haley wants a complete cutoff in US money until the Palestinians resume peace talks with Israel that have been frozen for years.

But Mr Tillerson, Mr Mattis and others say ending all assistance would exacerbate instability in the Middle East, notably in Jordan, a host to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and a crucial US strategic partner.

Last week, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, railed at Mr Trump in a fiery, two-hour-long speech.

He said "shame on you" for Mr Trump's treatment of the Palestinians and warned he would have no problem rejecting what he suggested would be an unacceptable peace plan.

The US donated $355m (£260m) to UNRWA in 2016 and was set to make a similar contribution this year.

But after a highly critical tweet by Mr Trump about aid to the Palestinians on 2 January, the State Department opted to wait for a formal policy decision before sending any of the funding.

It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don't even want to negotiate a long overdue...
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

Mr Trump expressed his frustration over the lack of progress in his attempts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

"We pay the Palestinians HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect," he tweeted. "But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"

Eliminating or sharply reducing the US contribution could hamstring the agency and severely curtail its work, putting great pressure on Jordan and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian Authority. Gaza would be particularly hard hit. Some officials, including Israelis, warn that it might push people closer to the militant Hamas movement, which controls Gaza.

The US officials said any reduction in American assistance could be accompanied by calls for European nations and others to help make up the shortfall.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
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Trump to cut millions in humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees

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Donald Trump's administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The US President will cut the year's first contribution by more than half, or perhaps entirely, and make additional donations contingent on major changes to the organisation, US officials have said.

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United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory

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Joint statement by Save the Children, UNICEF and the Humanitarian Coordinator for the oPt

Scores of Palestinian children continue to struggle to realize their right to education as students return to school last week. School demolitions, confiscation of equipment, double shifts, inability to prioritise education and underfunding have complicated children's access to education.

In Area C of the West Bank, three elementary schools / kindergartens were demolished or had their equipment confiscated in the past two weeks, just days before they were set to reopen, affecting 132 children. At least 56 schools in Area C of the West Bank currently have pending demolition or stop-work orders, creating uncertainty for vulnerable school children.

"The challenges in the education sector reflects the increasing protection risks we are seeing across the occupied Palestinian territory. Children, parents and teachers share their anxieties and fears in simply trying to reach school safely" said Jennifer Moorehead, Country Director for Save the Children.

In 2016 alone, 256 education-related violations were documented in the West Bank, affecting nearly 30,000 students. Many children have to study in schools with little protection from the heat or the cold; some face long journeys, delays at military checkpoints, harassment and violence, military activity in or around the school, or have to cross military areas and firing zones.

"It is our collective duty to protect every child on the journey to school and at school and to ensure that they can access the quality education which is the right of every child, everywhere. Not only is it a right, but children's access to quality and safe education is central to achieving a more peaceful future." said Genevieve Boutin, UNICEF Special Representative in State of Palestine.

In East Jerusalem, there is a shortage of about 2,000 classrooms in the municipal public education system. In 2016, only 44 new classrooms were added; over the next three years, 339 additional new classrooms are due to be constructed.

In the Gaza Strip, more than half a million children (550,000) return to school in crowded classrooms -- two-thirds of schools are forced to operate in double shifts (70% UNRWA schools, 63% public schools) and six schools on triple shifts to accommodate the growing number of children due to a shortage of schools and classrooms. Children are forced to study in darkened classrooms and sometimes do their homework by candlelight due to the unprecedented deterioration in the energy crisis. The Gaza Strip is receiving only four to six hours of electricity daily.

The ministry of education and higher education is facing a shortage of 800 teachers and administrative staff, while struggling to cover teachers' salaries (US $300,000 deficit per month).

"We must all stand up and be counted in defence of the right of Palestinian children to a sound education and in a safe environment. International law is unambiguous here - children and classrooms enjoy unique protections that must be respected by all" said Robert Piper, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the oPt.

All parties to the conflict and duty bearers must protect children's access to education in line with their obligations under international law. Access restrictions must be removed; measures taken to avoid threats, violence and confrontation on the way to and at school; schools must be respected as safe and inviolable spaces for children; and investment in education made an urgent priority.

Note to Editors

Despite increasing challenges in the education sector, education programmes remain severely underfunded.
More than US $20 million is required for humanitarian response in support of the public school system -- 14 million for the Gaza Strip alone and 6 million for the West Bank.

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Right of education for 1 million Palestinian children at risk

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Joint statement by Save the Children, UNICEF and the Humanitarian Coordinator for the oPt: Scores of Palestinian children continue to struggle to realize their right to education as students return to school last week. School demolitions, confiscation of equipment, double shifts, inability to prioritise education and underfunding have complicated children's access to education.

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Education can promote ideals of non-violence, equality and mutual respect, United Nations officials said today at a high-level event on how to achieve a culture of peace amid current global challenges and threats to stability, prosperity and the planet.

"We have to teach our children the values of peace, tolerance, equality and respect. They should be under no illusions as to the self-destructiveness of the alternative," said the President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson, who convened the all-day event in New York with a focus on early childhood development.

"We must equip them with the skills and education they need to peacefully resolve disputes; to confront injustice and intolerance; and to reject all forms of discrimination and hate," he added.

Mr. Thomson noted that creating peaceful and just societies is dependent on eradicating poverty, increasing inclusive prosperity, promoting human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and building effective and accountable institutions - the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda which has guided the international community's anti-poverty efforts since 2015.

"Fostering a culture of peace requires all of us - individuals, nations and international organisations - to work together to promote understanding of our common humanity," the senior official said. "We must promote intercultural respect, strengthen interreligious understanding, and inspire people's hopes for the future. Above all we must unite for peace."

The event brought together representatives from UN Member States, UN system entities, civil society, media, the private sector and others with an interest in exchanging ideas and suggestions on ways to build and promote a Culture of Peace, and to highlight emerging trends that impact its implementation.

In addition to early childhood education and investment in children, Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need to invest in youth to promote world peace.

He called young men and women "the barometer of social discontent, economic marginalization and political exclusion," and said they must be recognized as active agents of change and custodians of peace.

In a speech delivered by his Senior Advisor on Policy, Ana María Menéndez, the Secretary-General also recognized women's contributions and participation in long-term peace efforts. He said that women's meaningful participation generates a different perspective in solving problems, and needs to be supported in all aspects of life.

Mr. Guterres also highlighted the importance of investing in inclusion and cohesion, so that diversity is seen as a benefit and not a threat.

"To prevent intolerance, violent extremism and radicalization, we need to promote the inclusion, solidarity and cohesion of multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious societies. It is the best antidote to racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism," he noted.

The first such forum on the Culture of Peace was held in September 2012, and recognized the need for continual support to further strengthening the global movement for peace.

Via UN News Centre

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At high-level forum, UN stresses importance of education in building 'culture of peace'

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Education can promote ideals of non-violence, equality and mutual respect, United Nations officials said today at a high-level event on how to achieve a culture of peace amid current global challenges and threats to stability, prosperity and the planet. "We have to teach our children the values of peace, tolerance, equality and respect.

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Human Rights Education

Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance Programme

We have been delivering human rights education in our schools since 2000 to promote non-violence, healthy communication skills, peaceful conflict resolution, human rights, tolerance and good citizenship.

In May 2012, the Agency endorsed its new Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance (HRCRT) Policy to further stregthen human rights education in UNRWA. This policy builds upon past successes, but also draws from international best practices and paves the way to better integrate human rights education in all our schools.

The HRCRT Policy reflects the UNRWA mandate of quality education for Palestine refugees and sets out a common approach among all UNRWA schools for the teaching and learning of human rights, conflict resolution and tolerance. The vision of the policy is to "provide human rights education that empowers Palestine refugee students to enjoy and exercise their rights, uphold human rights values, be proud of their Palestinian identity, and contribute positively to their society and the global community. "

The HRCRT Policy is also a key element of the wider Education Reform in UNRWA.

Read the UNRWA policy on HRCRT ( Full policy, simplified version, HRCRT factsheet)

HRCRT Toolkit for Teachers

The HRCRT Toolkit was developed in 2013 as a practical guide to support teachers and school managers in implementing the HRCRT Policy and update the approach to teaching and learning human rights in UNRWA schools.

It provides a general guide on human rights, as well as planning tools for its integration at schools, and 40 child-friendly activities that will develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes of students towards a culture of human rights.

The HRCRT Toolkit was developed in a fully participatory manner and then improved according to feedback received during its testing phase in UNRWA schools in the West Bank and Gaza. Currently, all teachers and school managers are being trained to help them make the best use of the HRCRT Toolkit. In this way, each and every UNRWA teacher can play a crucial role in strengthening a culture of human rights in UNRWA institutions that serve 500,000 Palestine refugee students.

Read the HRCRT teacher toolkit

UNRWA SCHOOL PARLIAMENTS: GOOD PRACTICES BOOKLET

The UNRWA School Parliaments: Good Practices Booklet is a compilation of good practices from UNRWA School Parliaments in all five fields of operations. The practices reflect how School Parliaments have been working to raise awareness and take action on human rights. The Booklet provides an easy to read summary of a range of activities undertaken by School Parliaments and as such provides a reflection of a small sample of the vast wealth of experience of UNRWA schools.

Read the UNRWA school parliaments: good practices booklet

Gaza human rights curriculum

In Gaza, we have developed a dedicated human rights curriculum.

Specialists from UNRWA, the Red Cross, human rights NGOs and the wider academic community developed the comprehensive curriculum, anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All of our over 200,000 students have a dedicated human rights lesson each week.

All children are taught about:

Fundamental human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration

Their individual responsibilities, including tolerant behaviour

The history of the global struggle for human rights

The historical context that gave rise to the Universal Declaration.

Vocational training centres

The programme was also expanded to include vocational training centres (VTCs), where workshops promote awareness among the students and instructors of basic concepts of human rights, tolerance and conflict resolution.
More about vocational training centres
University education

The HRCRT Programme has been extended to our university-level educational science faculties in the West Bank and Jordan. It enables second-year students to learn about and practise their rights during university and to take part in the student parliament.
More about university scholarships

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Human Rights Education Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance Programme We have been delivering human rights education in our schools since 2000 to promote non-violence, healthy communication skills, peaceful conflict resolution, human rights, tolerance and good citizenship. In May 2012, the Agency endorsed its new Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance (HRCRT) Policy to further stregthen human rights education in UNRWA.