The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– ‘Observer mission’ –
UNESCO was once a low-profile UN agency best known for producing a list of World Heritage sites including tourist favourites such as the Grand Canyon or Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, as well as running science, media and cultural programmes.
But in addition to the controversial decision to admit the Palestinians in 2011, it has been the scene of repeated diplomatic flare-ups after efforts led by Arab countries to pass resolutions critical of Israel.
In May, Israel was infuriated by a resolution identifying Israel as “the occupying power” in the divided city of Jerusalem and calling on it to rescind any move changing the city’s “character and status”.
In July, another resolution declared the Old City of Hebron in the occupied West Bank an endangered World Heritage site.
Despite cutting its funding to the agency the US has continued to cooperate with UNESCO since 2011 on programmes of interest to Washington, such as combatting extremism and perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust.
The double withdrawal by the US and Israel comes as board members are voting to elect a new director-general, with Arab candidates from Qatar and Egypt vying with a French competitor.
“The worst news is the withdrawal of the United States which has overshadowed the election,” defeated Lebanese candidate Vera El Khoury told AFP on Thursday. “Every time a member leaves it weakens the organisation.”
Washington’s withdrawal is set to take effect on December 31, 2018, when it will establish an “observer mission” to replace its representation at the agency.
“It has nothing to do with the director-general race,” a spokesman for the US mission told AFP.
Francois Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the decision was probably motivated by Trump’s desire to send a message of support to Israel and underlined his “America First” policies.
“UNESCO is an easier target than others: it’s relatively small, it doesn’t concern vital interests, and UNESCO has gone much further than other UN organisations in recognising the Palestinian authorities,” he told AFP.
