US withdraws from Unesco over 'anti-Israel bias'

The US cites mounting arrears, anti-Israel bias, and ‘need for fundamental reform in the organisation’

The United States has withdrawn from Unesco over what it claims is the organisation’s “continuing anti-Israel bias” – a move that has just been followed by Israel itself.

The US State Department recently announced its intention to withdraw from the UN’s cultural, scientific and educational organisation and become a permanent observer instead.

“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at Unesco, the need for fundamental reform in the organisation, and continuing anti-Israel bias at Unesco,” the State Department said in a statement.

Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the UN, added that the organisation’s “extreme politicisation” has become “a chronic embarrassment”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled his approval, tweeting: “I welcome @realDonaldTrump’s decision to withdraw from Unesco ... I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare Israel’s withdrawal from Unesco in parallel with the United States.”

The US hopes to remain a non-member observer state, in order to contribute US opinions and expertise on issues like press freedoms and protecting world heritage, according to the Department. The decision will take effect at the end of 2018.

The US helped found Unesco in the wake of the Second World War, with the aim of ensuring peace through the free flow of ideas and education. The country’s withdrawal marks yet another move by the Trump administration to distance itself from global organisations.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made the decision to pull out several weeks ago, and announced it to French President Emmanuel Macron in a meeting with Donald Trump late last month, according to Foreign Policy. The State Department had hoped to delay the announcement until after Unesco selects a new Director General this week.

The current Director General, Irina Bokova, expressed her “profound regret” at the US’s decision. “Universality is critical to UNESCO’s mission to strengthen international peace and security in the face of hatred and violence, to defend human rights and dignity,” she said in a statement.

The US's decision will not effect existing Unesco world heritage sites in the country, or prevent it from submitting sites for consideration in the future, Unesco Media Chief George Papagiannis said. But he added that the US was losing a "world security partner" in Unesco.

"We’re trying to make a difference in this world by fighting violent extremists; making sure girls are getting access to schools; that teachers are getting the proper training they need," he told The Independent. "...It’s very disappointing to see the United States withdraw."

The US has withdrawn from the organisation once before, during the Reagan administration. Former President Ronald Regan pulled the country from Unesco in 1984, claiming the body was biased in favour of the Soviet Union.

President George W Bush rejoined the organisation in 2002, but the US pulled its funding less than 10 years later after the organisation accepted Palestine as a member.

Israel recalled its ambassador to Unesco last year, following the passage of several resolutions that Israelis claim erased their cultural and religious ties to Jerusalem.

Israel’s relationship with Unesco has long been rocky; its officials accused the body of making decisions based on political motivations.

Mr Trump, still a presidential candidate at the time, weighed in on the resolutions, calling their passage a “one-sided attempt to ignore Israel’s 3,000-year bond to its capital city” and “further evidence of the enormous anti-Israel bias” at the United Nations.

Ms Haley has also criticised Unesco for designating Hebron’s Old City and the Tomb of the Patriarchs – two major monuments in the area – as Palestinian territory.

“US taxpayers should no longer be on the hook to pay for policies that are hostile to our values and make a mockery of justice and common sense,” she said on Friday.

But the decision to withdraw from Unesco may also have been a financial one: the US owed more than $500m in arrears to the organisation and was at risk of losing it voting rights, according to Unesco documents. According to Foreign Policy, Mr Tillerson simply wanted to stem outgoings.

Several Democratic politicians were quick to criticise the announcement. Ben Rhodes, former foreign policy adviser to President Barack Obama, pointed to Mr Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and criticism of the Iran nuclear deal.

“Why would any country trust US to keep agreements?” he tweeted.

“Trump pulled US out of UNESCO,” tweeted Representative Pramila Jayapal. “Making it clear that culture, history, world heritage isn’t important to him, even if it is to Americans & world.”