UNESCO Accepts Palestinian Authority, Risks Loss of US Funds
October 31, 2011UNESCO accepted the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a member on Monday, risking the loss of 22 percent of its budget that is funded by the United States.
Only 14 nations voted against the PA, while 107 favored its entry and 52 countries abstained. Laughter broke out when Israel voted “no.”
Accepting the PA as a member raises its diplomatic status as it still tries to be accepted as full member of the United Nations.
Fully titled the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, it stands to lose $80 million a year because of an American law that states, “No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or any other Act shall be available for the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof which accords the Palestine Liberation Organization the same standing as member states.”
Congressmen Steve Israel, a Democrat from New York, and Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, have sent a letter to other legislators urging them to block any move to waive the law, Politico reported.
“We cannot change this law, and we hope you will join us in cosigning this bipartisan letter to stand by this policy,” Israel and Cole wrote last week. “Congress must send a powerful message that everything is done to block full membership of the Palestinian Authority to UNESCO, the UN Security Council, and other UN agencies. Such a move would be detrimental to Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, as well as UN programs around the globe.”
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, said she will “advocate for all funding to be cut off.”
She added, “There are consequences for short-cutting the process, not only for the Palestinians, but for our longstanding relationship with the United Nations.”
Abbas’ bid for recognition of statehood at the United Nations is also opposed by Israel, which says it is premature without direct talks that address its longstanding security concerns. The US, too, opposes this unilateral move.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...