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:
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
23 hours ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
23 hours ago
Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict
6 hours ago
Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say
6 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow
7 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
9 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts
10 hours ago
Military Parade Barrels Through Nation’s Capital With Tanks, Troops and 21-Gun Salute
23 hours ago
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
23 hours ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
23 hours ago
Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict
6 hours ago
Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say
6 hours ago
Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow
7 hours ago
Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
9 hours ago
Big Fresno Fair Unveils Second Wave of 2025 Concert Acts
10 hours ago
Military Parade Barrels Through Nation’s Capital With Tanks, Troops and 21-Gun Salute
23 hours ago
Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers
23 hours ago
Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty
23 hours ago
Fresno Man Arrested in Fatal DUI Crash on Trimmer Springs Road
4 hours ago
Categories

Fresno Man Arrested in Fatal DUI Crash on Trimmer Springs Road

Israeli Military Kills 41 People in Gaza, Medics Say

Manhunt for Gunman Who Shot Two Minnesota Lawmakers Enters Second Day

Israel and Iran Bombard Each Other, Trump Says He Can ‘Easily’ End Conflict

Trump Vetoed an Israeli Plan to Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, US Officials Say

Newsom Wanted To Fast-Track the Delta Tunnel Project. The Legislature Slowed the Flow

Five Weeknight Dishes: Seven Ingredients or Fewer, Because Summer
