The U.S. plans to from UNESCO, the UN agency dedicated to science and education. The White House believes that the group consistently demonstrates a bias against Israel.
The UN is notorious for the way it treats Israel. Countries under the grip of brutal regimes escaped critique while the Israelis are constantly loaded with sanctions.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
President Trump isn’t the first American leader to take issue with UNESCO, even Obama realized that something was wrong.
“Under the administration of President Barack Obama, the U.S. cut its funding for UNESCO dramatically in 2011, reducing U.S. contributions by 22 percent in response to the organization’s move to admit Palestine as a member. Those funding cuts have put the U.S. in arrears on its dues to the organization by more than $500 million…”
The debt won’t be paid, but the U.S. isn’t giving up its influence completely.
“The United States indicated to the Director General its desire to remain engaged with UNESCO as a non-member observer state in order to contribute U.S. views, perspectives and expertise on some of the important issues undertaken by the organization,” Nauert said.
(Source: Politico)