The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced that the Country is set to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), following in the steps of the US, as a letter would be sent before the beginning of 2018.
Israel had earlier made the announcement in October after the US withdrew from the agency, accusing it of “anti-Israel bias”.
I welcome @realDonaldTrump‘s decision to withdraw from UNESCO.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 12, 2017
I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare Israel’s withdrawal from UNESCO in parallel with the United States.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 12, 2017
At the end of his weekly cabinet meeting last week, Netanyahu instructed the Foreign Ministry to withdraw from the UN Agency.
“I think that this is necessary in light of the biased, unilateral and absurd attitude of the organization towards us and also in the background of the U.S. strong stance in the UN, which we welcome.”
Netanyahu’s statement comes as the UN General Assembly last week overwhelmingly voted to rebuke Washington over its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
UNESCO has been accused by Israel of being a “theatre of the absurd, distorting history rather than preserving it”.
UNESCO is a special multi-country agency, formed in 1945 and based in France. It promotes sex education and literacy as well as improve gender equality in member Countries.
The Agency is also known for protecting and preserving cultural heritage, sites and ancient villages, ruins and temples around the world.
In 2011, the Agency recognized and accepted Palestine as its 195th member which led to the US halting financial contribution under Barack Obama administration.
The US contribution represents 22% of UNESCO’s funding, there has already been a knock-on impact, with discussions of a possible 20% cut in staffing at some UNESCO programmes.
Although the US remained a member of the Agency, it failed to pay its dues, accumulating to $600 million, also known as arrears, and in 2013, the organization suspended U.S and Israel’s voting rights.
The US earlier withdrew from the Agency in 1984, during President Ronald Reagan administration, accusing it of corruption and ideological tilt towards the Soviet Union.
It re-registered in 2002, under President Bush.
America and Israel withdrawal would not take effect until the New Year, as the UNESCO Constitution states that members can only leave at the end of the following year.