"Get Out of Here": Ben Gvir and Gottlieb Clash at Supreme Court Over UNRWA

A confrontation occurred at the Supreme Court during a hearing on petitions against the UNRWA law between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Knesset member Tali Gottlieb, and an attorney representing UNRWA, who is a former mayor of Tayibe. After an exchange of words between the three, Ben Gvir and Gottlieb told the attorney: "Get out of here. Who gave you a law license? Shame on the Bar Association."

Ben Gvir responded: "The law puts an end to the absurdity where the State of Israel allowed UNRWA activity within its territory and terminates official cooperation with the organization. This is a correction of an injustice that has lasted for years. I hope that the Supreme Court will reject the petitions and will not harm this important law."

Itamar Ben Gvir and Tali Gottlieb confronting an attorney representing UNRWA and a former mayor of Tayibe (Photo: no credit)

The hearing at the Supreme Court came after the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Boaz Bismuth, approved for a second and third reading at the end of last year a bill aimed at ending UNRWA's activity—and clarifying explicitly that even the supply of electricity and water services to properties registered under the agency's name will be considered a prohibited act under the law. The proposal was approved unanimously: six Knesset members supported it—with no opponents.

Following the passage of the law, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israel that it could be brought before the International Court of Justice if it does not repeal the laws directed against the agency and return assets and property that were seized. In a letter dated January 8 to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Guterres wrote that the United Nations cannot remain indifferent to "steps taken by Israel, which are in direct contradiction to its obligations under international law," and emphasized that "they must be repealed without delay."

As recalled, about a month ago, the organization UN Watch called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to immediately remove any immunity enjoyed by the outgoing senior UN official, so that competent national authorities could investigate and prosecute him for alleged complicity in terrorism, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The request was submitted in an official legal letter relying on Article 20 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN. The letter argued that immunity exists solely to protect the interests of the UN—and not individual officials—and must be removed.

"For years, we have repeatedly warned Mr. Lazzarini (the outgoing UNRWA Commissioner-General) that Hamas had deeply infiltrated UNRWA," said Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch. "We provided detailed evidence identifying teachers, school principals, union leaders, and other staff members affiliated with Hamas. We documented repeated meetings between senior UNRWA officials—including Mr. Lazzarini himself—and leaders of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Despite this, he continued to assure governments that UNRWA's neutrality mechanisms were effective, while he oversaw an agency whose staff, facilities, and resources were exploited by terrorist groups."