Israel to follow Washington’s Unesco exit

MOSCOW: Israel’s intention to leave the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is unlikely to have any negative impact on the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Sputnik on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday, ordered the Foreign Ministry to prepare Israel’s withdrawal from Unesco, following Washington’s decision to do the same, over the organisation’s “anti-Israel bias”, cited as a reason.

“Absolutely not, because we still believe, despite everything in twostates solution, we still believe that we are the best neighbour for the Israelis,” Nofal said, when asked whether Israel’s withdrawal from Unesco could negatively affect Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Nofal said the US and Israel should return to Unesco, “one of the best organisations” in the world.

The ambassador pointed out that Unesco had first-hand knowledge of life in Palestine, which is why it took Palestine’s side. At the same time, Nofal stressed that Unesco was not rejecting the Israeli position.

In May, Unesco passed a resolution criticising Israel’s activities on territories in East Jerusalem and Gaza, both claimed by Palestine.

Washington stopped paying its dues to Unesco in 2011, after the body admitted Palestine as a member, since US federal laws prohibit the financing of any organisation that recognises Palestine as an independent state. Washington had its Unesco voting rights suspended since 2013, over the lapse in payments.

Relations between Israel and Palestine have been shattered for decades. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government refuses to recognise Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity, and builds settlements on the occupied areas despite objections from the UN.

The two-state solution, promoted by the international community, envisages the co-existence of two independent states: Israel and Palestine.