Yulia Malinovsky Defends Supreme Court After UNRWA Law Rulings

Yulia Malinovsky, a Knesset member from Yisrael Beiteinu and initiator of the UNRWA laws, publicly defended the Supreme Court judges following their decision to reject petitions against these laws. Speaking on Tuesday, Malinovsky stated that the court's rejection was expected and criticized political campaigns portraying the court as leftist and likely to annul the laws as cynical. She emphasized that well-crafted legislation should not be vulnerable to invalidation.

Malinovsky also noted that the government has yet to order the evacuation of UNRWA compounds in Kfar Aqab and Area C. She warned that if no action is taken by the end of the week, she will file a petition to the Supreme Court alongside the B'Tselem organization to compel the Defense Minister to enforce the laws.

The UNRWA law, passed several months ago with a majority of 59 to 7, imposes stringent infrastructural and financial restrictions on the organization. It mandates the cessation of electricity, water, and gas services to any property registered under UNRWA, prohibits financial institutions from providing banking or payment services, and requires communication providers to disconnect telecom services. These sanctions also apply to any entity acting on behalf of UNRWA. Additionally, the law authorizes the state and local authorities to seize properties held by UNRWA within 30 days, particularly in Jerusalem and Kfar Aqab.

In related developments, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot has launched a critique against the Likud party, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding the issue.