U.S. authorities have made a decision to withdraw from the U.N.’s cultural organization, UNESCO, which has been continuously anti-Israel, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement on Thursday.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO,” Ms. Nauert said.
Following the withdrawal, the U.S. is seeking to establish a permanent observer mission to the organization, according to the State Department.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the US decision “brave and moral,” and ordered the country’s foreign ministry to prepare for Israel to withdraw too.
PM Netanyahu instructed @IsraelMFA to prepare Israel's withdrawal from UNESCO in parallel with the United States.
— Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) October 12, 2017
