logo
Trump administration pulls US out of Unesco again

Trump administration pulls US out of Unesco again

Saudi Gazette2 days ago
PARIS — The US has said it will leave the United Nations' culture and education agency Unesco, accusing it of supporting "woke, divisive cultural and social causes".
Unesco's Director General Audrey Azoulay described the decision as "regrettable" but "anticipated".
The move is the latest step in the Trump administration's efforts to cut ties with international bodies, after removing the US from the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement, as well as cutting funding for foreign relief efforts.
Unesco has 194 member states around the world, and is best known for listing world heritage sites. The US' decision will take effect from December 2026.
The state department said Unesco's "globalist, ideological agenda for international development" was "at odds with our America First foreign policy".
It also described the inclusion of the Palestinians in Unesco in 2011, as "highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization".Those claims "contradict the reality of Unesco's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism," the organisation's head Audrey Azoulay said."This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism, and may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America— communities seeking site inscription on the World Heritage List, Creative City status, and University Chairs," she added.The Unesco head said the agency had been preparing for Washington's move, diversifying its sources of funding. Currently, she said, Unesco was getting about 8% of its budget from the US.In 2017, during his first presidency, Trump pulled the US out of Unesco but the decision was later reversed under Joe Biden's administration.During the Obama administration, in 2011, the US halted $60m in funds that had been earmarked for Unesco.A state department spokesperson at the time said former President Barack Obama's hand was forced due to a US law that prohibited the transfer of funds after Unesco granted the Palestinian Authority full membership.The Paris-based UN agency was set up in November 1945 — shortly after World War Two — to promote peace and security through global co-operation in education, arts, sciences and culture. — BBC
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Germany not planning to recognize Palestinian state ‘in short term'
Germany not planning to recognize Palestinian state ‘in short term'

Al Arabiya

time2 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

Germany not planning to recognize Palestinian state ‘in short term'

Germany is not planning to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make 'long-overdue progress' towards a two-state solution, a German government spokesperson said on Friday. 'Israel's security is of paramount importance to the German government,' said the spokesperson. 'The German government therefore has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term,' he added. Recognition of a Palestinian state would only come as one of the final steps in a two-state solution, said the spokesperson. Palestinians have long sought to create an independent state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem through a mediated peace process. Many accuse Israel of having destroyed Palestinian statehood prospects through increased settlement building in the West Bank and by levelling much of Gaza during the current war. Israel rejects this.

ICC refers Hungary to its oversight body for failing to arrest Netanyahu
ICC refers Hungary to its oversight body for failing to arrest Netanyahu

Al Arabiya

time2 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

ICC refers Hungary to its oversight body for failing to arrest Netanyahu

A panel of judges at the International Criminal Court reported Hungary to the court's oversight organization for failing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited Budapest in April, saying the move undercut the court's ability to bring suspects to justice. The Israeli leader received a red carpet welcome from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a state visit in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant. Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are accused of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. Israel is not a member of the court and staunchly rejects the charges. In a filing released late Thursday, the three-judge panel wrote that the obligation to cooperate was sufficiently clear to Hungary, and the failure to arrest Netanyahu severely undermines the Court's ability to carry out its mandate. The ICC has no police force and relies on countries around the world to execute arrest warrants. The court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, has limited powers to sanction Hungary. It will consider the next steps during its annual meeting in December. The Hungarian leader, regarded by critics as an autocrat and the EU's most intransigent spoiler in the bloc's decision-making, has defended his decision to not arrest Netanyahu. During the visit, Orbán said his country's commitment to the ICC was 'half-hearted' and began the process to withdraw Hungary from the court. Orbán signed the Rome Statute, the treaty which created the court, in 2001 during his first term as prime minister. The court dismissed arguments from Hungary that Parliament never incorporated the court's statute into Hungarian law, writing it was Hungary's responsibility to ensure that such legislation was in place. The decision comes as Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of using starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and of intentionally targeting civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. It's the third time in the past year that the court has investigated one of its member states for failing to arrest suspects. In February, judges asked Italy to explain why the country sent a Libyan man suspected of torture and murder home on an Italian military aircraft rather than handing him over to the court. In October, judges reported Mongolia to the court's oversight organization for failing to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin when he visited the Asian nation.

Preparations Underway for Two-State Solution Conference at UN Headquarters Next Week
Preparations Underway for Two-State Solution Conference at UN Headquarters Next Week

Asharq Al-Awsat

time3 hours ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

Preparations Underway for Two-State Solution Conference at UN Headquarters Next Week

Diplomatic preparations are intensifying ahead of next week's high-level ministerial conference on the two-state solution, to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The conference, co-chaired by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, marks a joint Franco-Saudi initiative aimed at reviving momentum toward Israeli-Palestinian peace. A French diplomatic source described the event as a first step in what is intended to become a broader process, paving the way for potential recognition of a Palestinian state. According to the source, France views September as a timely window for such recognition, aligning with the UN General Assembly's high-level meetings. Scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, the conference will feature speeches from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. It is seen as a prelude to a larger international conference expected to take place either in Paris or on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's 80th session. The French official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the initiative comes amid what he called the most serious threat to the two-state solution since the Oslo Accords. He pointed to the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, the resulting escalation, and ongoing violence in the West Bank, including rising settler activity, as key obstacles to peace. Despite the devastation, he stressed that Gaza must remain part of the final solution. The conference will focus on four core tracks, or 'baskets,' to help overcome barriers to implementing a two-state outcome. The first includes diplomatic recognition of Palestine by states that have not yet done so, including France. Paris, the source noted, is working to build collective momentum around formal recognition. The second track involves Arab and Islamic nations committing to normalize relations with Israel, contingent on progress toward Palestinian statehood. This normalization is seen as a catalyst for broader regional cooperation. The third component centers on reforming Palestinian governance. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly conveyed unprecedented commitments to the conference, including condemnation of Hamas' October 7 actions, calls for unconditional release of all hostages, and a pledge to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state. The fourth and final basket concerns the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from future Palestinian governance - a measure deemed essential for long-term Israeli security and the viability of a two-state arrangement. The conference will also review proposals developed by nine working groups and 18 co-chairs, with follow-up events expected in Paris or New York this September.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store