Staff Reports
In a move that is sure to raise some eyebrows, President Joe Biden has decided to have America rejoin the controversial United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which his predecessor had rightly withdrawn from. The decision comes as Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma sent a letter to the organization on June 8, with a plan to allow the United States to resume its status as a full voting member by July, following a concrete financing plan that involves American taxpayers footing the bill for years of unpaid dues.
While UNESCO may tout improved relations with the Biden administration, it is important to note America’s contentious history with the UN organization. It is a history that dates back to 1983 when President Ronald Reagan withdrew from it. Though America was later readmitted to UNESCO in 2003, the funding was cut off in 2011 after Palestine became a full member. This was also the reason why President Trump withdrew from the organization in 2017.
Indeed, while Israel has signaled that it will not object to the United States once again becoming a UNESCO member, it is worth noting that Palestine continues to pursue anti-Israeli policies which are often advocated for by UNESCO. Furthermore, the organization has grown increasingly anti-Israeli over the years, leading to valid concerns that the United States might simply be rewarding its bad behavior.
Perhaps what is even more shocking is that the funding bill for UNESCO features a “snap-back clause,” which means that money is to be withheld should Palestine obtain member-state status in a UN agency. Does this mean that the Biden administration is willing to blindly trust Palestine’s intentions? This decision is not in the best interests of the United States and American taxpayers, who will be forced to pay for the dues which were not paid while America was away from UNESCO.
The United States of America announces its intention to rejoin UNESCO in July.
"This is a strong act of confidence in the centrality of #UNESCO's mandate but also in the way this mandate is being implemented today." – @AAzoulay https://t.co/OeS1Q87H2z pic.twitter.com/QidZPb8b71
— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) June 12, 2023
The UNESCO funding bill must now be approved by the General Conference of UNESCO Member States, which includes many countries that practice anti-Semitism and anti-Israel policies. It is a questionable decision by President Biden to rejoin UNESCO, which may result in a seat on the executive board being handed to the United States in November, a move that is being supported by a number of other Western countries. America should not blindly associate itself with such an organization which has a track record of bias against Israel.
Source: Conservative Institute
