The United States and Israel have officially quit UNESCO.
Details of the Withdrawals
On January 1, 2019, the United States and Israel officially withdrew from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This action finalized a process that began over a year prior. The departures were primarily driven by concerns regarding UNESCO's perceived anti-Israel bias.
Reasons for Withdrawal
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United States: The U.S. cited concerns over accumulating arrears and the need for fundamental reform in the organization. However, a key factor was disagreement with UNESCO's stance on Israel.
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Israel: Israel mirrored the U.S.'s concerns, specifically pointing to UNESCO's decisions on Jerusalem and other Palestinian territories as being politically motivated.
Impact of the Withdrawals
The withdrawal of these two nations had significant implications for UNESCO, including:
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Financial impact: The U.S. was a major financial contributor to UNESCO, and its departure created a significant funding gap.
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Political impact: The withdrawals further politicized UNESCO and highlighted the challenges of maintaining neutrality in sensitive geopolitical issues.
Rejoining UNESCO
- United States: In June 2023, the United States rejoined UNESCO. This decision was motivated by concerns that China was filling the void left by the U.S. in setting standards for education, science, and culture.
Current Status
As of the time of this response, Israel remains withdrawn from UNESCO. The United States has rejoined UNESCO as of June 2023.
