Israel to Cease UNESCO Funding over Palestine Accession

A handout photo issued by UNESCO shows Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Riyad Al-Malki (2-L) and other delegates attending the session of the UNESCO General Conference in which Palestine is voted as a new UNESCO member State in Paris, France

Israel will follow the example set by the US and stop its funding for UNESCO after the Palestinian Authority was admitted to the UN agency for education, science and culture.

Israel's annual contribution to UNESCO used to be approximately USD 2 M. The United States already had announced that it will withhold the USD 80 M it contributes annually.

UNESCO's decision is detrimental to potential peace talks, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Thursday.

"Such steps will not advance peace; they will only push it further away," Netanyahu said as cited by CNN. "The only way to reach peace is through direct negotiations without preconditions."

On Wednesday, Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian Director-General of UNESCO, asked the USA to reinstate funding for the UN agency, after the Palestinian Authority was granted membership by its General Assembly.

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