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US could lose voting rights at UNESCO

333566_UNESCO-headquarters

The United States is likely to lose its voting rights at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) over opposition to Palestine becoming the new member of the organization.

Washington has been under fire for passing laws that mandate an automatic funding cut for any international organization – including UNESCO – that recognizes Palestine as a member.

According to UNESCO rules, the United States has to resume the funding that accounts for 22 percent of UNESCO’s regular budget until Friday. If not, the country will lose its vote power.

Palestinian Ambassador to UNESCO Elias Sanbar has said, “We need them (US authorities) to be active. By taking this decision, first of all, they have created big problems for UNESCO but they have also lost part of the role and we need the role. I am not saying, well that’s very good bye-bye and leave us. I am not saying this. Why did they choose to get out from the game in this way?”

Washington has been opposed to the Palestinian membership in UNESCO since the organization decided to grant full membership to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2011.

In addition to UNESCO, the United Nations General Assembly voted on November 29, 2012, to upgrade Palestine’s status at the UN from “non-member observer entity” to “non-member observer state” despite strong opposition from the United States and the Israeli regime.

The move followed a failed bid by Palestinians to join the UN as a full member state in 2011 due to a lack of support in the Security Council.

The upgrade allows the Palestinians to participate in debates at the UN General Assembly and improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court (ICC), where they could file complaints against Israel.

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