Ann Dismorr, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, with a map that shows all of Israel as "Palestine." Photo: Palestinian Media Watch.

In a continuing tete-a-tete, The UNRWA has rejected claims made earlier this week by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) that one of its Middle East directors posed with a map that removed Israel, instead claiming the map was of the region prior to the creation of the Jewish state.

Ann Dismorr, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, posed with the map earlier this month during the  launch of an UNRWA project to improve the water supply network and rehabilitate shelters in the Rashidieh Camp.

UNRWA spokesperson Christopher Gunness, responding on UNRWA’s website, rejected PMW’s report.

“UNRWA categorically rejects accusations in the media that the Agency is ‘erasing Israel from the map’ because its officials and stakeholders stood next to a map which does not show Israel. The map in question is an embroidery depicting a pre-1948 map and therefore ante-dates the creation of the state of Israel. The allegations are therefore completely false,” claimed Gunness.

PMW however, took issue with this version of events, noting: “UNRWA spokesperson Gunness’ justification that the map ‘depict[s] a pre-1948 map’ is baseless, as the map includes the PLO-PA flag and not a British flag. That exact map erasing Israel, especially when accompanied by the PA flag, is one of the many ways the PA expresses its rejection of Israel’s existence and right to exist.”