Israel cuts back financial aid to UN over UNESCO vote

Palestinians gather in front of the UNESCO office in protest in , Gaza on March 21, 2017 [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

Israel said on Wednesday it will cut back $1 million in aid for UNESCO in response to a recent resolution which is critical of Israeli policy in Jerusalem.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [file photo]

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced the decision at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said he had ordered the foreign ministry to immediately implement the order.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Swedish Ambassador to Israel, Carl Magnus Nesser on Wednesday, following Sweden’s support for the UNESCO resolution.

The Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport, Miri Regev, called on the government to close the UNESCO headquarters in Jerusalem and confiscate its building.

UNESCO declares Israel as an ‘occupying power’

On Tuesday, UNESCO passed a resolution that criticises Israel over its continuing archaeological excavations in East Jerusalem’s Old City.

According to the resolution, the excavations are a violation of international law.

The proposal was presented by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan.

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Former United Nations Special Rapporteur for Palestine Richard Falk on 20 March 2017 [Jehan AlFarra/Middle East Monitor]

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