Share
PARIS — The United States and Israel have officially quit the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural agency — the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago amid concerns that the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
The withdrawal is mainly procedural yet serves a new blow to UNESCO, co-founded by the U.S. after World War II to foster peace.
The Trump administration filed its notice to withdraw in October 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed suit.
The Paris-based organization has been denounced by its critics as a crucible for anti-Israel bias: blasted for criticizing Israel’s occupation of east Jerusalem, naming ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites and granting full membership to Palestine in 2011.
Israeli U.N. envoy Danny Danon said Tuesday that his country “will not be a member of an organization whose goal is to deliberately act against us, and that has become a tool manipulated by Israel’s enemies.”
Withdrawals Will Not Greatly Impact UNESCO Financially
The U.S. has demanded “fundamental reform” in the agency that is best known for its World Heritage program to protect cultural sites and traditions. UNESCO also works to improve education for girls, promote understanding of the Holocaust’s horrors, and to defend media freedom.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay took up her post just after Trump announced the pullout. Azoulay, who has Jewish and Moroccan heritage, has presided over the launch of a Holocaust education website and the U.N.’s first educational guidelines on fighting anti-Semitism — initiatives that might be seen as responding to U.S. and Israeli concerns.
Officials say that many of the reasons the U.S. cited for withdrawal do not apply anymore, noting that since then, all 12 texts on the Middle East passed at UNESCO have been consensual among Israel and Arab member states.
In April, Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO said the mood was “like a wedding” after member nations signed off on a rare compromise resolution on “Occupied Palestine,” and UNESCO diplomats hailed a possible breakthrough on longstanding Israeli-Arab tensions.
The U.S. Intends to Stay Engaged at UNESCO as a Non-Member
The document was still quite critical of Israel, however, and the efforts weren’t enough to encourage the U.S. and Israel to reconsider their decision to quit.
In recent years, Israel has been infuriated by repeated resolutions that ignore and diminish its historical connection to the Holy Land and that have named ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites.
The State Department couldn’t comment because of the U.S. government shutdown. Earlier, the department told UNESCO officials the U.S. intends to stay engaged at UNESCO as a non-member “observer state” on “non-politicized” issues, including the protection of World Heritage sites, advocating for press freedoms and promoting scientific collaboration and education.
The U.S. could potentially seek that status during UNESCO Executive Board meetings in April.
The United States has pulled out of UNESCO before. The Reagan administration did so in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. The U.S. rejoined in 2003.
RELATED TOPICS:
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
1 day ago
Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas
8 hours ago
Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants
22 hours ago
Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices
22 hours ago
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap
22 hours ago
California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law
1 day ago
Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy
1 day ago
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
1 day ago
Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas
8 hours ago
Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants
22 hours ago
Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices
22 hours ago
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap
22 hours ago
California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law
1 day ago
Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy
1 day ago
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
1 day ago
Townsizing? Land Snorkeling? A User’s Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo
7 hours ago
Categories

Townsizing? Land Snorkeling? A User’s Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo

Trump Trade War Has Already Had Huge Effect on California Ports

Cambodian American Chefs Are Finding Success and Raising Their Culture’s Profile. On Their Terms

Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas

Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap
