Palestinian Banners Fuel U.N. Dispute

By Edith M. Lederer
August 17, 2005
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701727.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701727.html 
UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations is embroiled in a dispute with American Jewish organizations over the funding of Palestinian banners in Gaza, and U.S. Ambassador John Bolton on Wednesday protested the unacceptable payments.
The dispute centers on the U.N. Development Program's payment for materials produced by the Palestinian Authority for Israel's disengagement from Gaza which include banners saying: Gaza Today. The West Bank and Jerusalem Tomorrow.
The American Jewish Congress protested in a letter Monday to the Development Program's new administrator, Kemal Dervis, that UNDP was paying for Palestinian propaganda when the future status of the West Bank and Jerusalem are still disputed.
In a letter Tuesday to top officials from the American Jewish Congress, Dervis said UNDP was encouraged by donors and others to help facilitate Israel's peaceful withdrawal from Gaza and help ensure stability during the pullout.
As part of this effort, UNDP provided support for communications to the public and media in Gaza, the content of which was the responsibility of the PA (Palestinian Authority), he wrote in the letter obtained by The Associated Press.
Dervis indicated that the content _ and inclusion of the UNDP logo _ were decisions left to the Palestinians.
He agreed with the American Jewish Congress that the Palestinian Authority is certainly entitled to express its political sentiments. But what is unacceptable, he said, is the use of UNDP's logo on the Palestinian message, which was first reported by The New York Times on Monday.
UNDP takes the need for complete political neutrality very seriously, Dervis said, adding that while the agency's mandate includes helping entities to improve their ability to govern effectively we cannot be involved in political messaging.
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said Wednesday that Dervis had not addressed concerns about inappropriate allocation of funds and a lack of supervision.
The group, which represents 52 national Jewish organizations, complained that there has been a history of violations of political neutrality regarding the Palestinians _ including in this case. It said it has asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a full investigation and examination of UNDP's operations with the Palestinians to put an end to these outrageous practices.
When asked about the U.S. government's response, Bolton said in a brief statement that Funding this kind of activity is inappropriate and unacceptable.
UNDP said a meeting with U.S. officials was scheduled for Thursday.
© 2005 The Associated Press