Israel considers freezing $2 million in UNESCO funds

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday announced the government's plans to halt its $2 million annual contribution to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), after the international body granted the Palestinians full membership status on Oct. 31.

UNESCO became the first U.N. agency to formally grant full-member status to the Palestinians since the Palestinian Authority applied for unilateral recognition of statehood at the U.N. on Sept. 23.

The decision not to provide UNESCO with the annual membership funds requires legal approval. If approved, the government would be free to allocate the funds for conservation of historic sites like Masada and Jerusalem's Old City.

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Israel's Forum of Eight senior ministers is scheduled to convene next week to discuss the implications of the PA's newly acquired UNESCO membership status, and the ramifications of Israel's move to not provide the organization with funding. The forum is also expected to discuss the PA's ongoing efforts to gain membership into16 other U.N. bodies.

Canada and the U.S. have both also decided to cut off funding to UNESCO over the Palestinian vote.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the U.S. "remains strongly committed to robust, multilateral engagement across the U.N. system. However, Palestinian membership as a state in UNESCO triggers long-standing legislative restrictions which will compel the United States to refrain from making contributions to UNESCO."

The U.S. was set to transfer $60 million to UNESCO in November. Nuland added that granting the PA full status was "regrettable, premature and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

"Victory at UNESCO is the beginning of a road that is difficult, but will lead to the freedom of our land and people from occupation," PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said about the PA's new status.

Israel's Ambassador to UNESCO, Nimrod Barkan, reacted to the organization's decision, saying, "We regret that the organization of science has opted to adopt a resolution which is a resolution of science fiction." Barkan continued, "There is no Palestinian state and therefore one should not have been admitted."

Netanyahu said of UNESCO's move, "These steps will not advance peace but will only serve to drive it farther away," adding, "The only way to reach peace is by way of direct negotiations without preconditions."

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