The United States has withdrawn from Unesco over what it claims is the organisation’s “continuing anti-Israel bias” – a move that has just been followed by Israel itself.
The US State Department recently announced its intention to withdraw from the UN’s cultural, scientific and educational organisation and become a permanent observer instead.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at Unesco, the need for fundamental reform in the organisation, and continuing anti-Israel bias at Unesco,” the State Department said in a statement.
Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the UN, added that the organisation’s “extreme politicisation” has become “a chronic embarrassment”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled his approval, tweeting: “I welcome @realDonaldTrump’s decision to withdraw from Unesco … I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare Israel’s withdrawal from Unesco in parallel with the United States.”
The US hopes to remain a non-member observer state, in order to contribute US opinions and expertise on issues like press freedoms and protecting world heritage, according to the Department. The decision will take effect at the end of 2018.
The US helped found Unesco in the wake of the Second World War, with the aim of ensuring peace through the free flow of ideas and education. The country’s withdrawal marks yet another move by the Trump administration to distance itself from global organisations.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made the decision to pull out several weeks ago, and announced it to French President Emmanuel Macron in a meeting with Donald Trump late last month, according to Foreign Policy. The State Department had hoped to delay the announcement until after Unesco selects a new Director General this week.
The current Director General, Irina Bokova, expressed her “profound regret” at the US’s decision. “Universality is critical to UNESCO’s mission to strengthen international peace and security in the face of hatred and violence, to defend human rights and dignity,” she said in a statement.
The US’s decision will not effect existing Unesco world heritage sites in the country, or prevent it from submitting sites for consideration in the future, Unesco Media Chief George Papagiannis said. But he added that the US was losing a “world security partner” in Unesco.
“We’re trying to make a difference in this world by fighting violent extremists; making sure girls are getting access to schools; that teachers are getting the proper training they need,” he told The Independent. “…It’s very disappointing to see the United States withdraw.”
