Introduction

The transatlantic relationship has traditionally represented a key dimension of the EU approach towards the Arab-Israeli conflict. Although the EU regards Middle East peace as a strategic priority, many Member States consider sound ties to Washington just as important - or even much more so. One major lesson the Europeans have learnt since the 1970s is that the pursuit of alternative policies that overtly challenge US positions has proved counterproductive and undermined their own cohesion. Together with the continuing difficulty of gaining recognition as a relevant

Reporting period: 1st - 31st December 2010 (1 day standdown for Ashura and 15 days for

Christmas)

- Clearance, confirmation, and processing of 20,923m² and 402m3 of land using a toolbox approach, including surface and sub surface clearance, electronic detectors, and mechanical processing in Battle Area Clearance work in southern Lebanon affected primarily by cluster sub munitions, as well as mine clearance on the Blue Line and in the Chouf mountains.

- 46,544 direct beneficiaries and 20,425 indirect beneficiaries

- Removal and destruction of 224 hazardous

The Arab Partners Update is a periodical publication from UNRWA’s External Relations Department (ERD) in Amman. The Update reports on UNRWA’s latest news and events related to the Arab world. It focuses on the latest generous contributions from our Arab partners and summarises UNRWA’s newest programmes and initiatives along with featuring the agency’s major needs. The Update is intended for distribution to our donors, our partner NGOs, other UN Agencies and departments as well as UNRWA’s staff.

28 December 2010 - Lebanese President Michel Sleiman today reaffirmed his country's "consensus" support for the United Nations peacekeeping operation that was strengthened in 2006 as part of the agreement that ended fighting between Israel and Hizbollah.

On a visit to UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters at Naqoura in southern Lebanon, he was briefed by Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, who underscored the importance of the ongoing coordinated operations between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army.

Maj.-Gen. Asarta stressed that UNIFIL

International Convention against Enforced Disappearance Taking Effect

(New York, December 22, 2010) - The Convention against Enforced Disappearance, which takes effect on December 23, 2010, should strengthen international efforts to end this horrific practice, Human Rights Watch said today. The treaty should advance justice for victims and accountability for those responsible, Human Rights Watch said.

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance enters into force one month after it is ratified by 20 nations. On November 23, Iraq became

15 December 2010 - Beirut

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in collaboration with the American University of Beirut, conducted in summer 2010 a socio-economic survey on a representative sample of 2,600 Palestine refugee households. This European Union-funded initiative describes the living conditions and welfare status of Palestine refugees in Lebanon. The survey's results will help UNRWA understand better the levels of poverty and its determinants, and provide relevant indications for evidence-based programming.

After months of drought, storms pounded Lebanon during the weekend, destroying or damaging most of the 60 homes in Jal al-Bahr, one of Lebanon's poorest communities of Palestinian refugees.

On the shores of the Mediterranean in southern Lebanon, water laps onto the walls of the tin and concrete houses still standing in this tiny Palestinian community. Residents say waves, between six- and nine-meters high, crushed or permanently damaged most of the homes in this community.

Standing on the broken concrete in a destroyed house, this man says he and his wife were eating dinner when

13 December 2010 - Continuing efforts to ease tensions in Lebanon, a senior United Nations official today held wide-ranging talks with the international relations chief of Hizbollah.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams' meeting with Ammar Moussawi followed several last week with Lebanese officials, after which he reiterated his concern over the crisis that has put on hold the work of key national institutions and called once again for dialogue to resolve existing tensions.

"We spoke first of all about Security

Baltimore, Md. (IOCC) - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded $26.4 million to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) for a program in Lebanon that will improve student achievement, expand after-school programs, provide training for public school teachers and upgrade educational facilities in 600 Lebanese public schools over the next four years. The program is part of a $75 million initiative that will be implemented in 1,400 schools in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education and five other