Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Search
Close this search box.

UNRWA’s DC lobbyist pressured think thank into canceling Hillel Neuer from Washington debate

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2024 — A prominent Washington think tank was pressured by UNRWA’s chief US lobbyist into disinviting the best-known critic of the controversial agency from an upcoming panel debate about allegations of UNRWA bias.
Barbara Slavin, a Fellow at the Stimson Center had invited UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer, a Geneva-based international lawyer who has documented widespread support for terrorism among UNRWA’s staff, and had then confirmed his participation and provided details for the program of the event, to be held at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, on Monday, May 20th. The other panelists are all UNRWA supporters: William R. Deere, UNRWA’s Washington director, former Jordanian official Merissa Khurma, now with the Wilson Center, and Andrew Hyde, a former State Department official now with the Stimson Center.
Suddenly, however, Slavin emailed Neuer, under the subject line of “change of plans,” to summarily disinvite him, without providing any explanation.  “We have decided to go with someone here in DC,” Slavin wrote.  (See correspondence below)
As it happens, Neuer is in DC, having arrived in Washington to testify at today’s Congressional hearing into UNRWA support for terrorism. He recently testified about UNRWA before the European Parliament and the Swiss Parliament.
Only after Neuer complained to Brian Finlay, CEO of the Stimson Center, did Slavin confirm that it was William Deere, UNRWA’s Washington lobbyist, who had pressured the Stimson Center into cancelling Neuer’s appearance. “You are correct that he said he would not take part in an event with you,” Slavin wrote Neuer on Monday. “Apparently, you have some history that I was not aware of.”
But Neuer said that he has never met Deere, and has no “history” with him.
“It is shameful that UNRWA, which already received $121 million in US funding this year, and more than $1 billion in the prior three years, refuses to debate with one of the only groups that has held the agency accountable to its own stated principles.”
“This is the first time in my life that I have been disinvited from an event where I was a confirmed speaker. The Stimson Center’s cancellation of my appearance is not only dishonorable, but contrary to the high ethical standards and values of integrity stated by their organization,” said Neuer.

“UNRWA lobbyist William Deere threatened not to appear unless I was cancelled. The ethical and honorable thing for the Stimson Center to do would have been to inform him that he can withdraw if he so wishes, but not to go along and cancel a speaker whom, they had invited and confirmed.”

“I wrote last week to Brian Finlay, CEO of the Stimson Center, to clarify whether Ms. Slavin’s conduct is consistent with the Stimson Center’s ethical standards, and his brief reply to me was non-responsive.”
__________________
STIMSON CENTER CORRESPONDENCE WITH HILLEL NEUER

From: Barbara Slavin <******@stimson.org>
Date: Monday, 13 May 2024 at 08:11
To: Hillel Neuer
Subject: Stimson Center’s cancellation of my participation in UNRWA panel event

Dear Dr. Neuer,

I am dreadfully sorry about the mix up over our event and I understand your anger.

It is my fault for not checking with Mr. Deere prior to confirming your participation. You are correct that he said he would not take part in an event with you. Apparently, you have some history that I was not aware of.

This is a fraught time for everyone who cares about the Middle East. I can assure you that Israel’s critique of UNRWA will be raised and discussed at the event and again apologize for any inconvenience. Please do not blame Stimson for my mistake.

Sincerely,

Barbara Slavin

From: Hillel Neuer
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 2:31:57 PM
To: Brian Finlay <*******@stimson.org>
Subject: Stimson Center’s cancellation of my participation in UNRWA panel event

Dear Mr. Finlay,

 I am writing to inform you of the appalling behavior of your colleague Barabara Slavin in connection with the upcoming May 20th Stimson Center event about UNRWA to which she had invited and confirmed me as a panelist.

After I had duly accepted Ms. Slavin’s invitation to be a panelist at this event, and after she confirmed my attendance, and provided me with details on the run of the program, she then sent me an email, yesterday on May 9th, under the subject line of “change of plans,” summarily disinviting me from this event. (See email chain below.)

In my entire career, I have never been disinvited from an event where I was a confirmed speaker. I can only assume that the Simson Center’s cancellation of my participation was done at the request of another panelist, UNRWA’s U.S. representative William Deere.  

However, in such a case, the ethical and honorable thing for the Stimson Center to do would have been to inform the objector that he or she can withdraw if they so wish, but not to go along and cancel a speaker who was invited and confirmed by the Stimson Center.  

As I am sure you will agree, the Stimson Center’s cancellation of my appearance is not only dishonorable, but contrary to the high ethical standards and values of integrity stated by your organization.  

Moreover, the manner in which your organization executed the cancellation was outright rude. Ms. Slavin informed me:

“thanks for accepting my earlier invite but we have decided to go with someone here in DC. albest, [sic] Barbara.“

No reason provided for the cancellation; no recognition or self-awareness that what she was doing was wrong; and no apology. When I wrote to ask specifically for the reason, she refused to provide any. This is in direct violation of the Stimon Center’s stated principles of transparency.

Accordingly, I am requesting that, in your capacity as President and CEO of the Stimson Center, you explain (a) why I was cancelled from your event, and (b) that you clarify whether Ms. Slavin’s conduct is consistent with the Stimson Center’s ethical standards.

  

Sincerely,

Hillel C. Neuer
United Nations Watch
Geneva, Switzerland

____________________

From: Barbara Slavin <******@stimson.org>
Date: Thursday, 9 May 2024 at 23:59
To: Hillel Neuer
Subject: Re: change of plans

yes I am afraid I have to change…  sorry to have troubled you.

From: Hillel Neuer
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 5:21 PM
To: Barbara Slavin
Subject: Re: change of plans

Hi Barbara,

I am confused. You kindly invited me, I accepted, and then you confirmed the details. Are you now withdrawing the invitation, and if so, why?

Best regards,

Hillel

_____________________

From: Barbara Slavin <******@stimson.org>
Date: Thursday, 9 May 2024 at 22:40
To: Hillel Neuer 
Subject: change of plans

thanks for accepting my earlier invite but we have decided to go with someone here in DC. albest, Barbara 

 ________________

 

From: Barbara Slavin
Date: Thursday, 9 May 2024 at 21:20
To: Hillel Neuer
Subject: Re: participation in a panel on UNRWA May 20

thanks… it will be a panel discussion, I’ll ask initial questions of each speaker, do a followup or two and then open to the audience at Stimson and online.

i’ll send out an email a couple of days in advance with my likely initial questions for everybody. again thanks for this and looking forward to a lively – and civil – discussion.

albest, Barbara

From: Hillel Neuer
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 9:17 PM
To: Barbara Slavin
Subject: Re: participation in a panel on UNRWA May 20

Dear Barbara,

Thank you for the invitation. I will be happy to participate.

Please find headshot attached and the 1-paragraph bio here.

Can you please tell me about the format of the panel?

 

Best regards,
Hillel

 

_______________________________________

From: Barbara Slavin <*********@stimson.org>

Date: Thursday, 9 May 2024 at 19:30
To: Hillel Neuer
Subject: participation in a panel on UNRWA May 20

Hi and hope you are well. [] suggested you as a discussant for a panel we are holding at the Stimson Center on UNRWA – its history, current role and recent controversies. If, as [] says, you are available to join us virtually from noon to 1:30 pm DC time on Monday May 20, we would be most grateful. Other participants are William Deere, the head of the UNRWA DC office, Merissa Khurma of the Wilson Center and Andrew Hyde of Stimson. I will moderate.

If this is convenient for you, please send me a one paragraph biography and a headshot so we can add you to the invite. Many thanks in advance and albest, Barbara

Share

Recent

Your Voice at the United Nations

UN Watch is a non-profit organization dedicated to holding the United Nations accountable to its founding principles. UN Watch is funded entirely by charitable donations

Keep in touch

newsletter SIGN-uP
Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Instagram

Support

make a donation
UN Watch