UNESCO: US, Israel withdraw from UN heritage agency
An American flag flies outside the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
The United States has formally notified the UN’s world heritage body Unesco that it is withdrawing its membership of the organisation after US officials cited “anti-Israel bias”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US decision as “brave and moral”, a statement said.
Irina Bokova, the outgoing UNESCO head, called the US withdrawal a “loss to multilateralism”, saying she is convinced that “UNESCO has never been so important for the US, or the US for UNESCO”.
At a 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.
The Israeli ambassador Danny Danon said the US withdrawal was proof that the “absurd and shameful resolutions against Israel have consequences.”
Danon said: “Today is a new day at the UN where there is a price to pay for discrimination against Israel.”
The US withdrawal will become effective at the end of December 2018 – until then, the US will remain a full member. The US will establish an observer mission at the Paris-based organisation to replace its representation, the state department said.
