The political underpinnings of such measures are multifarious. Israel, responsible for the initial displacement of Palestinians and which continues to deny refugees their rights, is keen to limit the capacity of UNRWA’s general fund in order to see the gradual transfer of essential services, and eventually refugees, to host countries, in turn, imposing involuntary integration on both. This is an attractive scenario for Israel, minimizing its responsibilities vis-á-vis Palestinian refugees under international law.30 It is a stance recently mirrored by the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, who, on 17 May 2018, claimed that UNRWA actively hinders the integration of Palestinian refugees into their host countries, criticizing the Agency for impeding resettlement.31 A year prior to this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for the termination of UNRWA altogether.32 Netanyahu’s announcement reflects a desire to put an end to international responsibility regarding Palestinian refugees; eliminate the question of refugees from final negotiations; and release Israel from future claims concerning refugee rights and the issue of return. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is a position ostensibly endorsed by the international community. The postOslo shift in funding from UNRWA to the Palestinian Authority (PA) saw the transfer of additional resources to the West Bank and Gaza Strip rather than the other regions of UNRWA's operations.33 This reduced UNRWA’s capacity to provide essential services in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, constituting a step towards the integration of Palestinian refugees into their host countries and ultimately the termination of UNRWA.34 Some Arab states have advanced the political argument that it is the responsibility of the broader international community to bear the financial burden of the Palestinian refugee issue, given its role in the creation of the problem. This was the rationale behind the creation of a special protection regime for Palestinian refugees in 1948, when Arab states did not contribute to UNRWA’s budget.35 Several Arab states have since donated to UNRWA, 30 Maya al-Orzza, “UNRWA has been in crisis since its inception”. 31 BADIL, “Our return is not a dream, it is an internationally recognized right: Letter from BADIL Center for Palestinian Refugees to the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, in response to his statement on UNRWA and Palestinian refugees,” 20 May 2018, available at: https://badil.org/en/ publication/press-releases/87-2018/4867-pr-en-200518-15.html [accessed 30 May 2018]. 32 “Israel calls for end of UN Palestinian refugee agency,” Al Jazeera, 12 June 2017, available at: https:// www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/israeli-calls-palestinian-refugee-agency-170611214423120.html [accessed 30 May 2018]. 33 Maya al-Orzza, “UNRWA has been in crisis since its inception”. 34 Riccardo Bocco, “UNRWA and the Palestinian refugees”. 35 BADIL, Closing Protection Gaps: Handbook on Protection of Palestinian Refugees, August 2005, vi, available at: https://badil.org/phocadownload/Badil_docs/publications/Handbook.pdf. 13