U.S. Could Withhold Funds For U.N. Agency After Vote to Grant Membership to Palestinians

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U.S. Could Withhold Funds For U.N. Agency After Vote to Grant Membership to Palestinians

The acceptance of the Palestinian mission into the U.N.'s cultural and educational agency could result in backlash from Washington, which is required by law to cut off funding to the agency if a Palestinian Liberation Organization is granted membership in any group at the international body.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization voted 107-14 with 52 abstentions on Monday granting Palestinians full membership in the organization. The U.S. voted against the nomination. Eighty-one votes of the 173 UNESCO members were needed for full membership to be approved.

"Long Live Palestine!" one delegate reportedly shouted in French at the meeting.

The U.S. funds about 22 percent of UNESCO's budget, or roughly $80 million annually.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though U.S. ambassador to UNESCO David Killion reportedly said the vote will "complicate" U.S. efforts to support the group.

An aide to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said the congresswoman supports full enforcement of the law, without exception.

Ros-Lehtinen, R-Calif., has also introduced legislation that would withhold U.S. contributions from any U.N. agency or program that "upgrades" the status of the Palestinian observer mission at the U.N, whether full membership or not.

Ros-Lehtinen has previously argued efforts at de facto recognition of a Palestinian state is an attempt to evade a negotiated settlement with Israel.

That proposal comes as Palestinian officials continue to seek full membership in the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. has threatened to veto a Security Council vote for Palestinian membership unless a Mideast peace agreement with Israel is reached.

Israel's ambassador to UNESCO Nimrod Barkan told Reuters that the vote is a tragedy.

"UNESCO deals in science, not science fiction," he reportedly said. "They forced on UNESCO a political subject out of its competence."

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