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US pulls out of UNESCO, citing 'anti-Israel' bias

14/10/17
In May this year, Israel was infuriated by a resolution identifying Israel as 'the occupying power' in the divided city of Jerusalem.
The United States said Thursday that it was pulling out of the U.N.'s culture and education body, accusing it of "anti-Israel bias" in a move criticized by the head of the Paris-based organization.
Following years of tension at UNESCO, which is in the process of electing a new director-general, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert announced that Washington planned to withdraw.
"This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO," she said in a statement.
The United States -- one of the body's founding members -- has withdrawn once before under president Ronald Reagan, who quit in 1984 over alleged financial mismanagement and anti-U.S. bias in some of its policies.
President George W. Bush announced America's return in 2002, but relations soured again in 2011 when Washington pulled the plug on funding to the body after its members voted to admit Palestine as a full member.
Washington opposes any move by U.N. bodies to recognize the Palestinians as a state, believing that this must await a negotiated Middle East peace deal.
But President Donald Trump's administration is also reviewing many of its multilateral commitments, pursuing what he calls an "America First" policy.
The head of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, voiced "profound regret" over the decision, calling it a "loss to multilateralism".
"At the time when conflicts continue to tear apart societies across the world, it is deeply regrettable for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations agency promoting education for peace and protecting culture under attack," she said.
In a statement, Bokova said that "despite the withholding of funding, since 2011, we have deepened the partnership between the United States and UNESCO, which has never been so meaningful."
'Observer mission'
UNESCO, which is best known for producing the list of World Heritage sites that includes the Grand Canyon and other U.S. attractions, has been the scene of diplomatic flare-ups in recent years after Arab countries succeeded in passing a number of resolutions critical of Israel.
In May this year, Israel was infuriated by a resolution identifying Israel as "the occupying power" in the divided city of Jerusalem and calling on it to rescind any move changing the city's "character and status".
The text denounced "all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying power, which have altered or purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem."
In July, the agency again delighted Palestinians when it declared the Old City of Hebron in the occupied West Bank an endangered World Heritage site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the vote "another delusional decision" by UNESCO, which promotes education, cultural development and free media initiatives around the world.
The agency's board members are set to vote this week to elect a new director-general, with candidates from Qatar, France and Egypt in a three-way race for the position.
Washington said it would establish an "observer mission" to replace its representation at the agency./.

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All comments [ 5 ]


Socialist Society 14/10/17 06:01

But six years ago, the United States cut off more than $80 million a year, in reprisal for the organization’s acceptance of Palestine as a member

Me Too! 14/10/17 06:03

The US is using its money for the unfair political demand

For A Peace World 14/10/17 06:06

there may be another reason why the U.S. doesn't see UNESCO — from which it also cut funding in 2011 — as crucial to its foreign policy

Vietnam Love 14/10/17 06:07

the U.S. simply doesn't have as much power there, or as much need for the group's work, as it did when UNESCO first started.

Voice of people 14/10/17 06:14

during the Cold War, American officials imagined UNESCO as a tool against communist propaganda.

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