U.S. withdraws from UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural organization, citing anti-Israel bias

[PastTense]

The United States plans to withdraw from UNESCO, citing financial reasons, as well as what it said was an anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, cultural and science organization.

The decision to withdraw from UNESCO was announced Thursday morning by the State Department, which said the United States would remain involved as a nonmember observer state.

U.S. withdraws from UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural organization, citing...

It seems bizarre that an organization devoted to educational, scientific and cultural cooperation would be so controversial in the U.S. If you look at a list of activities most are worth doing:

UNESCO | Activities

[Desert_Nomad]

And now Israel has done the same.

It’s easy to see why they are like the 51st state.

Israel to join US in quitting Unesco

[The_Tooth]

@PastTense

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/12/u-s-withdraws-from-unesco-the-u-n-s-cultural-organization-citing-anti-israel-bias/

It seems bizarre that an organization devoted to educational, scientific and cultural cooperation would be so controversial in the U.S. If you look at a list of activities most are worth doing:
UNESCO - Wikipedia

It’s not bizarre at all. Education, science, and cultural cooperation are not what Republicans are about. They are as Kryptonite to the right.

[Shodan]

State Department officials cited a 2012 decision not to expel Syria from its human rights committee after the civil war in that country began, and repeated resolutions that refer to Israel as an occupying power.

The withdrawal means the U.S. will halt the arrears it has run-up since it stopped funding the organization in 2011 to protest the admission of the Palestinian Authority as a full member.

Darn that Obama for his anti-cultureness.

Regards,
Shodan

[Dewey_Finn]

I think Trump’s isolationist policies are a bad idea. I think it’s better to sit with others at the table and talk and interact than to sit alone.

[doorhinge]

@PastTense

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/12/u-s-withdraws-from-unesco-the-u-n-s-cultural-organization-citing-anti-israel-bias/

(post shortened)

The most immediate impact is that the U.S. will halt the arrears it has run up since it stopped funding the organization in 2011 to protest UNESCO’s admission of Palestine as a full member. By the end of this calendar year, the unpaid U.S. bill will amount to $550 million.

It appears that the U.S. objects to paying the UN for the UN’s projects that the U.S. doesn’t agree with. Since 2011.

[PastTense]

US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues, to counter Chinese influence

Wouldn’t the funds have to be appropriated by Congress? I don’t see the Republican controlled House of Representatives doing this.