Finally United States and Israel has bid adieu to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after president Trump and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu filed notice of withdrawal in October 2017.
Paris-based UNESCO was founded to foster peace after World War II. It is best known for its work to preserve heritage like programmes to promote education in developing countries and maintaining a list of World Heritage sites. The quit of two nations to serve a new blow to the organization.
UNESCO had earlier criticized Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem. In 2011 it granted full membership to Palestine.
Following this US stopped paying dues, which was 22 percent of the total budget, and demanded for fundamental reform.
Currently US owe about $600m and that of Israel is estimated at $10m.
However, it is learned UNESCO will not be much affected financially after the withdrawal of US and Israel.
Earlier this year the State Department informed UNESCO that US intends to stay engaged as a non-member observer state on non-politicized issues like advocating press freedom, protection of World Heritage sites and promoting scientific collaboration and education.
In 1984 too, during the Reagan administration, US pulled out of the agency citing UNESCO is mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests.
In 2003 US rejoined.
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