The United States is cutting funding to the U.N. education and science agency UNESCO after the agency voted to accept a Palestinian bid for full membership, the U.S. State Department said Monday. "Today's vote by the member states of UNESCO to admit Palestine as member is regrettable, premature and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive just and lasting peace in the Middle East," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "The United States will refrain from making contributions to UNESCO," she said. The United States was going to make a $60 million payment in November, and will now not do so, she said.
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Report: Palestine will seek full membership in the World Health Organization
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U.N. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice calls the vote "deeply damaging to UNESCO"
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The vote "further removes the possibility" for a peace deal, Israel says
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The vote shows most countries "refuse to be intimidated and blackmailed," a Palestinian official says
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The @placeholder contribution comprises 22% of the agency's funding in its regular budget, a spokeswoman for UNESCO said.
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U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressed the concern as well, saying "we will need to work on practical solutions to preserve @placeholder's financial resources."
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Ban said he had no further comment, although he noted "the urgency of a negotiated solution of the @placeholder peace process."
Israel
"The ones who voted negatively are isolating themselves along with @placeholder on the wrong side of justice and the law.
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And if the U.S. continues to threaten to boycott or withdrawal from organizations that recognizes @placeholder it might find itself outside most global institutions with diminishing influence and standing," she said.
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Israel believes that the correct and only way to make progress in the diplomatic process with the @placeholder is through direct negotiations without preconditions."
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Since Palestinian leaders made the request for membership in UNESCO earlier this month, @placeholder lawmakers have urged the agency to reject it.