Imperialistic agenda: USA cuts funding to UNESCO for admitting Palestine

The United States of America has criticized the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and cut tens of millions of dollars in funding to the organization after it voted to admit Palestine as a full member.

The move comes as further proof of the United States bias towards Israel and disregard for the larger international community.

The Palestinian authorities applied for a full membership of UNESCO as part of their bid to achieve statehood and bring more international recognition to their cause. The matter was put to a vote but even before it took place the USA warned UNESCO not to
admit Palestine and that funding for the international cultural and heritage organization could be cut as a result.

However, UNESCO went ahead with a vote and 107 countries polled "yes" during a UNESCO meeting in the French capital of Paris. Only 14 countries voted against and 52 abstained, adding up to over a two-third majority of those who voted.

The decision grants full membership to Palestine, something the both the United States and Israel have strongly protested, with Israel believed to be considering its involvement with the organization. Palestine has had observer status since 1974. Now as
a full member, the Palestinians will be able to register certain sites, like the Church of the Nativity, in UNESCO’s World Heritage register. 

The major significance of the vote though is symbolic, as revealed by celebrations after the unusually tense vote in Paris.

"It’s good news. It’s another step in the right direction," said Husam Zomlot, a PLO member and former ambassador. "We’re marching towards full status in the international system. UNESCO is a very important organisation."

The Palestinians have also filed a bid to gain full membership of the United Nations, but are unlikely to be admitted at this moment in time. Although the majority of the international community stands behind Palestine in its struggle against the Israeli
occupation, the United States does not.

In fact, the so called champions of Human Rights have been actively backing the Israeli occupation for decades and have threatened to veto if the UN voted in favour of Palestinian membership.

For now though, the Palestinian authorities are rejoicing in their small win at UNESCO,

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Posted by Ali Ahmed on Nov 1 2011. Filed under Latest News, Middle East, USA, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry