Disgraceful: Palestine secures seat in UNESCO and the U.S. cuts off funds

[Cali_Democrat]

UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Palestine secures seat in UNESCO, U.S. cuts funds
Updated 2h 8m ago

PARIS (AP) – Palestine won its greatest international endorsement yet on Monday, full membership in UNESCO, but the move will cost the agency one-fifth of its funding and some fear will send Mideast peace efforts off a cliff.

In an unusually dramatic session at the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, there were cheers for "yes" votes and grumbles for the "no's" and abstentions. When the results were in, many delegates jumped to their feet and applauded and someone let out a cry of "Long live Palestine!" in French.

"Joy fills my heart. This is really a historic moment," said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. "It's the return of he who was banished."

But the jubilation was quickly pierced by reality: The United States said it wouldn't make a $60 million payment to fill out its contributions for this year and would suspend all future funding.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-10-31/Palestinian-UNESCO-membership/51019702/1

So the US wants the Palestinians to negotiate with their occupiers before they can seek statehood. Of course the occupiers want chunks of Palestinian land that is illegally being occupied as it is.

The Palestinians say screw this and go straight to the UN for recognition instead of licking the boots of the Americans and Israelis. Good for them!

More interesting tidbits:

The irony of America cutting UNESCO funds

<snip>

Currently the U.S. covers approximately one fifth of the UNESCO costs but by cutting that funding it will be even harder for the American agenda at UNESCO to be accomplished.

That agenda is not just about protecting previous cultural sites, or teaching Afghan women, children and even police officers to read, or about helping to continue the Tsunami early warning system. It’s also about protecting Israel.

The irony of the decision to cut funding is that UNESCO is one of the few United Nations groups where the U.S. finds a sympathetic ear on issues related to Israel. UNESCO is actively working with America to promote tolerance and is working to deepen understanding of the Holocaust in countries where people don’t even believe it existed.

Even more important U.S. interests will be at stake if the World Intellectual Property Organization grants Palestinians membership, which as an affiliate of UNESCO they are almost certain to do. That is where you start directly encountering obvious and significant interests to American business. When an intellectual property dispute involves the Googles or the Apples of the world and China, it is critical for the U.S. to be a member of good standing, which it will not be if Congress cuts funding.

Read more: http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/31/the-irony-of-america-cutting-unesco-funds/

[Mnemosyne]

1. ...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. As I understand it, its black letter law

At this point UNESCO will be dropped from any further appropriation resolution and the administration can do nothing.