US may stop funding UNESCO
UNESCO stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in funding if it admits the 'Palestinian Authority' to full membership. That warning isn't just coming from Congress this time. It's also coming from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton, speaking to reporters in the Dominican Republic where she was on an official visit, said she found it "inexplicable" that UNESCO would consider moving ahead on a Palestinian vote while the issue was still before the United Nations Security Council.The US provides 22% of UNESCO's budget, but under current US law, the government may be prohibited from funding any UN body that grants full member status to the 'Palestinians.'
"I ... would urge the governing body of UNESCO to think again before proceeding with that vote because the decision about status must be made in the United Nations and not in auxiliary groups that are subsidiary to the United Nations," Clinton said.
Other US lawmakers also warned the UN cultural agency that it stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in funding if it agrees to admit Palestine as a member before an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is concluded.
Two top members of the House panel that oversees such funding say the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization could lose roughly $80 million in annual US contributions if it follows the recommendation of its board and admits Palestine.
While lawmakers have proposed suspending US assistance to the Palestinians if they proceed with a bid for UN membership, current US law prohibits giving funds to the United Nations or any UN agency that grants the Palestine Liberation Organization the same standing as member states.But... but... they thought Obama wanted them to do things that would help the 'Palestinians.' What a difference an election campaign makes....
In addition, existing US law can bar Washington from funding any UN body that accepts members that do not have the "internationally recognized attributes of statehood." That requirement is generally, but not exclusively, interpreted to mean UN membership.
The State Department said it was studying the implications of Palestinian membership on UNESCO funding but repeated the US position that such a move would complicate the Mideast peace process by raising tensions with Israel, which is fiercely opposed to the step.
Labels: Campaign 2012, Hillary Clinton, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome, UNESCO, Unilateral declaration of independence (UDI)
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:45 AM
2 Comments:
I doubt this will ever happen. At best, Obama will wait until, G-d forbids, he is reelected.
And even if the USA does stop funding UNESCO, Saudis will gladly compensate for that. They wouldn't dare do that if the role and the influence of the USA in the world politics hadn't been significantly decreased (due to incessant efforts by the Obama himself).
This is something I must admit that I have never been able to understand:
Why do we, as a nation, borrow money from other nations and then 'give' that money away to the UN, international NGO's and other countries? I can understanding trying to help our friends, but also help those who publicly declare their hatred for us? Insanity!
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