The Trump administration announced Thursday that is pulling the United States out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, better known as UNESCO, because of its “anti-Israel” bias. Israel withdrew from the organization just hours after the U.S. made its announcement. The State Department said the U.S. will instead act as an observer to the Paris-based U.N. organization, which encourages collaboration among countries through culture, education, and science programs—and has long faced criticism from American anti-abortion groups. “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,” said State spokeswoman Heather Nauert. The United States stopped its financial contributions to UNESCO in 2011 after the organization offered full membership to Palestine.
Netanyahu says Israel will follow the United States in pulling out of the United Nations' cultural agency. https://t.co/P7Iv961IuX
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 12, 2017