United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a global organization under the United Nations. It was formed after World War II with the goal of promoting peace, cultural cooperation, scientific knowledge, and education across the world. The United States had been a key founding member of UNESCO in 1945 and played an important role in funding and shaping the organization’s direction for many years.
Recognition of Palestine as a Full Member
In 2011, a major decision by UNESCO changed the course of its relationship with the US. The organization voted to accept Palestine as a full member state. This was seen as a symbolic yet powerful political move by many countries that supported Palestinian recognition on the world stage.
However, this decision did not sit well with the United States or Israel. The US, which opposes any recognition of Palestinian statehood outside of direct negotiations with Israel, strongly disagreed. As a result, the US immediately stopped funding UNESCO. Since the US was contributing nearly 22% of UNESCO’s annual budget, the funding loss was a significant blow to the organization.
Reasons Behind the United States’ Withdrawal from UNESCO
In 2017, the United States made a major announcement that it would officially withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This decision followed years of tense and strained relations between the U.S. government and the international body. The withdrawal came as a surprise to many, but American officials explained that several important reasons were behind this move.
One of the main reasons the U.S. gave was UNESCO’s recognition of Palestine as a member state. The United States believed that this recognition was harmful to peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
According to U.S. officials, giving Palestine full membership status in UNESCO without a final peace agreement could create more division and conflict, instead of helping both sides come together. The U.S. felt that recognizing Palestine in this way might make it harder to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
Another key reason for the U.S. exit was what American leaders described as a long-standing and consistent anti-Israel bias within UNESCO.
They claimed that many of the organization’s resolutions unfairly targeted Israel, especially regarding disputes over historical and religious sites in Jerusalem and other contested areas.
American representatives argued that these resolutions seemed one-sided and ignored the Israeli viewpoint, which caused deep frustration for the U.S., a close ally of Israel.
Has the US Rejoined UNESCO Since Then?
Yes. After years outside of the organization, the United States officially rejoined UNESCO in July 2023 under President Joe Biden’s administration. The decision to return was based on the belief that the US can better influence global decisions from within the organization. It also showed a shift back to multilateralism and diplomacy.
US officials said they hoped their return would help UNESCO move past old political divides and focus on issues like education, technology, artificial intelligence ethics, and global cultural preservation.
US-UNESCO relationship has been one of ups and downs, driven by political disputes, financial concerns, and international diplomacy. While the US withdrawal in 2017 made headlines around the world, its return in 2023 is seen as a step toward rebuilding trust and global cooperation.
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