BICOM

Delegates to the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) yesterday voted to approve the Palestinian application for full membership of the organisation. In total, 107 countries voted in favour of the application, with 14 against and 52 abstentions. The United States, Canada, Germany and Holland were among the countries voting against. The United Kingdom and Italy abstained. France, India, Brazil, South Africa, Russia and China voted in favour.

The move was immediately criticised by the US, with White House Spokesman Jay Carney describing it as ‘premature’ and distracting from the shared goal of negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. Following the vote, the US, which currently provides 22% of the funding for UNESCO, announced that it was halting its funding for the organisation, and would not be making a $60 million USD transfer that was due in November. The US decision to halt support was made in accordance with a long-standing congressional restriction on US funding for UN bodies that recognise Palestine as a state before a comprehensive peace agreement is reached.

Israel is also considering measures against the Palestinian Authority in response to the UNESCO move. Among possible moves being considered would be ceasing the transfer to the PA of tax revenues collected by Israel on its behalf. Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu today has convened a meeting of senior ministers to discuss Israel’s response.