US, Israel protest as Palestine becomes UNESCO member

US, Israel protest as Palestine becomes UNESCO member

The U.S. and Israel have criticised Palestine becoming a member of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Reports say the U.S. insisted that the action by UNESCO was “counter-productive.”
It declared: “We are here in UNESCO today because of the contributions it continues to make, including its mission of building peace, promoting education, culture and science and its praiseworthy focus on Africa and on women and girls. However, we recognise that this action today would complicate our ability to support UNESCO’s programmes. There are other ways of promoting the cause of the Palestinian people that would not have involved seeking premature membership of UNESCO.”

For Israel, Palestine’s admission as a member “is a tragedy for the ideals of UNESCO and a great disservice to international law and the chances for peace.”  

It added: “UNESCO deals in science other than science fiction. However, a large number of states (countries), which are less than two-thirds of the member states of this organisation, have adopted the science fiction by admitting a non-existent state to the science organisation.”

Apparently bracing for America’s retaliation, UNESCO’s Director General, Irina Bokova reminded member states that America, the largest financial contributor to the organisation, could block its funds.

She, however, enjoined members to rise up to the occasion and ensure that UNESCO does not suffer unduly.

Palestinian Membership

Palestine became the 195th member of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) with an overwhelming support from 107 nations on Monday.

The historic decision was taken at the ongoing 36th General Conference of the world body, after a simple, but tension-soaked voting process, which began at about 1.43 p.m. local time and lasted for about 35 minutes.

In the end, 107 member states voted in favour, 14 were against while 52 abstained.

The Nigerian delegation which voted in favour was led by Education Minister, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’i.

A total of 185 members were entitled to vote, 173 of which were present at Monday’s proceedings.

Palestine needed 81 votes to make the two-thirds majority requirement, but it got 26 votes more.
As the votes were being counted, the Palestinian delegation members were on their feet. The hall erupted in a joyful uproar when the results were announced.

The voting

Before the voting started, President of the Conference, Katalina Bogyay of Hungary, while explaining the procedure, had stated that each country’s name would be called, and the leader of each delegation was required to answer “Yes’ or “No.”

One after the other, the names was called but the voting pattern was both expected and surprising.

For instance, the United States (U.S.), Israel and Germany were expectedly part of the 41 members who voted against Palestine.

The United Kingdom (UK), America’s traditional ally, abstained.  

According to reports, the first two countries had been at the forefront of the campaign against the admission of Palestine since the motion was introduced in 1989.

Surprises

Surprisingly, however, France, Norway, Finland, Austria, Republic of Ireland and Iceland broke ranks with other members of the European Union and voted in favour while Italy quietly abstained.

Some of the African countries which joined Nigeria and voted in favour were: Ghana, Niger, Mozambique, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Malawi, Congo, South Africa and the Republic of Benin but Cameroun and Burundi abstained.  

Three giant Asian countries, China, India and Indonesia also voted in favour.

NP/ Adekusibe/Ekata