Japanese lawmaker urges his government to cut funding to UNRWA

By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
A Japanese parliamentarian said this week he will urge his government to reduce funding to UNRWA, the UN body dealing with Palestinian refugees and their descendants, in the wake of continuing criticism of the organization. Yoshitake Kimata, a member of the House of Councilors, the upper house of Japan's National Diet, was in Jerusalem to attend an Israel solidarity conference of Asian politicians and evangelical Christian leaders. The event included a session by Tel Aviv University's Dr. Martin Sherman on the differences between UNRWA and UNHCR, the UN's main refugee agency. Israel has long said some Palestinian members of UNRWA's staff are linked to terrorism, an accusation UNWRA denies.