Source: UNESCO board votes to recommend Palestinian membership

[Jefferson23]

Forty out of 58 states on board of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization vote in favor; Israel Foreign Ministry says move a 'rejection' of path of negotiations with Israel.



The executive board of the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO on Wednesday voted in favor of a Palestinian state being given UNESCO membership, sources at the agency told DPA.

Forty of the 58 countries on the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization voted in favor, four voted against and 14 abstained, the sources said.

In response to the news, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that the Palestinian request for membership to UNESCO is a “rejection of the path of negotiations, as well as of the Quartet plan to continue with the political process.”

“This move negates the efforts of the international community to advance the political process. A decision like this will not advance the Palestinians in their aspirations to statehood,” the ministry said.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/source-unesco-board-votes-to-recommend-palestinian-membership-1.388357

[Jefferson23]

1. U.S. efforts: US urges no vote on Palestine UNESCO membership

US urges no vote on Palestine UNESCO membership


Published: 10.05.11, 21:08 / Israel News


The United States on Wednesday called on UNESCO members to vote against the cultural body accepting Palestine as a member with the rights of a state.

"The United States urges all delegations to join the United States in voting 'no' on this resolution," David Killion, US ambassador to Paris-based UNESCO, said in a statement. (AFP)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4131924,00.html

[Jefferson23]

6. Clinton warns UNESCO of loss of US funds

US secretary of state says UN cultural agency could lose tens of millions of dollars if it agrees to admit Palestine before Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is concluded

News Agencies Published: 10.06.11, 00:26 / Israel News


US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that the UN cultural agency UNESCO should "think again" on plans to vote on Palestinian membership, noting that such a move could cause the United States to cut funds for the organization.

Clinton, speaking to reporters in the Dominican Republic where she was on an official visit, said she found it "inexplicable" that UNESCO would consider moving ahead on a Palestinian vote while the issue was still before the United Nations Security Council.

I ... would urge the governing body of UNESCO to think again before proceeding with that vote because the decision about status must be made in the United Nations and not in auxiliary groups that are subsidiary to the United Nations," Clinton said.


Other US lawmakers also warned the UN cultural agency that it stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in funding if it agrees to admit Palestine as a member before an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is concluded.

Two top members of the House panel that oversees such funding say the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization could lose roughly $80 million in annual US contributions if it follows the recommendation of its board and admits Palestine.

Over US objections, the UNESCO board voted earlier Wednesday in Paris to recommend Palestine's membership. A vote from the full body is expected later this month.



The US provides 22% of UNESCO's budget but was in the clear minority on the 58-member UNESCO executive board, which voted 40-4 with 14 abstentions in favor of the recommending the Palestinian bid. Apart from the US, only Latvia, Germany and Romania voted against, according to US officials.

While lawmakers have proposed suspending US assistance to the Palestinians if they proceed with a bid for UN membership, current US law prohibits giving funds to the United Nations or any UN agency that grants the Palestine Liberation Organization the same standing as member states.


In addition, existing US law can bar Washington from funding any UN body that accepts members that do not have the "internationally recognized attributes of statehood." That requirement is generally, but not exclusively, interpreted to mean UN membership.



The State Department said it was studying the implications of Palestinian membership on UNESCO funding but repeated the US position that such a move would complicate the Mideast peace process by raising tensions with Israel, which is fiercely opposed to the step.



'Jeopardize relationship with Palestinians'

The Palestinians are seeking recognition and full membership in the United Nations at the UN Security Council but the US has said it will veto the bid unless there is a peace deal with Israel. Faced with that obstacle, the Palestinians are seeking membership in other UN bodies including UNESCO.

Reps. Kay Granger, a Republican, and Nita Lowey, the chairwoman and top Democrat, respectively, of the House panel that controls US foreign aid, both urged UNESCO not to admit the Palestinians, noting the aid restrictions.

Granger said in a statement that she would advocate cutting the UNESCO contribution if the Palestinians succeed.



"Making a move in another UN agency will not only jeopardize our relationship with the Palestinians, it will jeopardize our contributions to the United Nations," she said. "There are consequences for short-cutting the process, not only for the Palestinians, but for our longstanding relationship with the United Nations."




Lowey said in a statement the UNESCO board's action was "premature and counter-productive" to efforts to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to long-stalled peace talks.



"It is incumbent on every agency affiliated with the United Nations to do its utmost to foster not thwart conditions for peace," she said. "Toward that end, I urge the full membership of UNESCO to reject this destructive gambit and urge the Palestinian Authority to return to direct negotiations with Israel."


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4131967,00.html

[Jefferson23]

7. Biden: Israel America's closest, dearest friend

Published: 10.06.11, 00:35 / Israel News


At an annual event held at the US Vice President's residence in honor of the Jewish New Year, US Vice President Joe Biden said that "Israel is America's closest, dearest, and most morally-based friend".


Among the guests present at the event were Biden's political rivals from the Republican Party as well as leaders of the American Jewish community. Last week Biden said that he refused to release the Jewish spy Jonathan Pollard while US President Barack Obama had considered it. (Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4131974,00.html

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Maybe China could step up and replace the funds cut by the U.S.

It seems to me that this would be a good and fairly cheap move that China could make to increase it's global influence.

[Scurrilous]

2. Israel: Palestinian UNESCO bid is rejection of negotiations

Membership request in UN cultural agency seen as test case for support for Palestinian statehood; U.S. warns will cut funding to agency if bid successful.

<snip>

"Palestinians cleared their first hurdle Wednesday to full membership in the UN cultural agency, an official said, as they expand and accelerate their push for international recognition, despite opposition from the United States and Israel.

In response to the news, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that the Palestinian request for membership to UNESCO is a “rejection of the path of negotiations, as well as of the Quartet plan to continue with the political process.”

“This move negates the efforts of the international community to advance the political process. A decision like this will not advance the Palestinians in their aspirations to statehood,” the ministry said.

Israel's ambassador to UNESCO, Nimrod Barkan, told Haaretz that the U.S. has clearly indicated that if the motion passes and the Palestinians become full members, it will stop contributing funds to the organization. This would cripple UNESCO, as the U.S contribution makes up 22 percent of its entire budget."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-palestinian-unesco-bid-is-rejection-of-negotiations-1.388381

[Jefferson23]

3. We're fooling who about being an honest broker in the alleged peace process? n/t

[azurnoir]

4. this is getting embarrassing now, the US will cut funding to UNESCO too

what next UNICEF? no treats for you only tricks?

[shaayecanaan]

5. You would have thought Israel would be pleased with the Palestinians undertaking

to protect world heritage areas in the West Bank. Presuming of course they're actually in favour of a Palestinian state.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. It's got to the point where Israel and the US have moved beyond petty and vindictive...

I'm guessing Israel doesn't want even an inch of the West Bank to be at risk of being declared world heritage areas....

[Scurrilous]

10. Yep.

:thumbsup:

[bemildred]

12. I think it's more like the Palestinians cannot be allowed to "win", not even symbolic wins.

Reminds me of a disfunctional family where every issue turns into a fight over who is the boss.

[azurnoir]

11. Palestinians to push heritage agenda at UNESCO

"UNESCO membership carries a message of justice and rights. Why must the Palestinians be left outside the international system?" Taha said. "I see it as crowning long efforts over the past 20 years."

He said that after gaining full UNESCO membership, the Palestinians will revive their bid to secure World Heritage status for Bethlehem and its Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Jesus. The nomination was rejected this year because the Palestinians were not a full UNESCO member.

<snip>

"We will call on the World Heritage Committee to activate this application," said Taha. "We expect that after Bethlehem, other sites will follow."

These are likely to include Hebron, an ancient city home to a shrine holy to Jews and Muslims, which is one of the most volatile spots in the West Bank.

The vote on Palestinian membership is expected at UNESCO's General Conference, which runs from October 25 to November 10. The Palestinians have had observer status at UNESCO since 1974.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=427796