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U.N. Demands Diplomatic Immunity for Suspected Palestinian Terrorist

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Israel said it won't give diplomatic immunity to those who help terrorist organizations after the United Nations demanded the release of a UN Development Agency (UNDP) worker arrested by Israel suspected of aiding Hamas.
 
"Israel rejects the claim that a person assisting a terror organization recognized by the international community such as Hamas could enjoy immunity, for this very simple reason -- whoever assists a terror organization cannot hide behind a claim of immunity," Israel's Foreign Ministry (MFA) said in a statement.
 
Wahid Abdullah al-Borsh is a senior engineer for the UNDP in the Gaza Strip.  He was indicted earlier this month for using his position to aid Hamas, including building a seaport for Hamas' naval commandos, according to an earlier report in the Jerusalem Post.
 
The UNDP is involved with the reconstruction of homes in the Gaza Strip, damaged during the 2014 Hamas-Israel conflict. 
 
According to the MFA statement, Borsh was arrested on July 16th.  At the time, the UNDP said he was a contractor and said it trusted the capability of the Israeli authorities "to investigate the case properly."
 
But in a turn-around, the UN claimed suddenly this week that the suspect has diplomatic immunity and should be released immediately. "This is a new claim," the MFA said.
 
The MFA's legal team examined the claim and decided it is "unsubstantiated."
 
"In any case it is important to clarify that the immunity from which certain UN agencies employees benefit is related to the performance of their duties," the statement said. 
 
"It is clear that immunity is not a license to commit acts of terror," it added.  "It is outrageous that a man assisting a terror organization could benefit from UN immunity."
 
The incident is similar to another case this summer where a senior employee for World Vision in the Gaza Strip was arrested and accused of funneling ministry funds to Hamas for rockets, tunnels and other military uses.

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