In a 107-14 vote with 52 abstentions, Palestine became the 174th member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The most surprising ‘yes’ vote was France, while some of the ‘no’ votes included the United States, Israel, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany. 81 votes were needed to admit Palestine to UNESCO. Full UN membership is not required for membership to every UN agency.
The supporters of this outcome are mostly overjoyed and proud of their accomplishment. Many states are still apprehensive, not wanting to step on toes too heavily or to further jeopardize UNESCO’s funding. Others, such as U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who called the outcome “reckless” and “anti-Israel and anti-peace,” are not enthusiastic about the vote.
UNESCO will lose 22% of its funding, because of a United States’s law that bars the funding of any organization that admits Palestine as a member prior to an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is achieved. The effect of this law will be felt immediately, according to the United State’s State Department.
This vote is primarily "a grand symbolic victory for the Palestinians, but it alone won't make Palestine into a state.” The UN Security Council will vote on Palestinian statehood.
So what is all the fuss about? UNESCO is concerned with science, culture and education. Could UNESCO offer anything to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? Why are some countries not willing to try a new approach or at least wait and see what might happen as a result of this membership?
For the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/us-unesco-funding_n_1067628.html.
For more information about UNESCo: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/.
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