Unesco makes Palestine full member

The UN’s cultural organisation, Unesco, has accepted Palestine as a full member. Meeting in Paris on Monday, 107 countries voted for the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) application, 14 countries voted against and 52 abstained.

Reuters/Benoit Tessier

he US and immediately criticised the decision as “premature” and Israel accused Unesco of propagating a “science-fiction version of reality”.

It is seen as a prelude to the UN General Assembly, where the PA has to win two-thirds of the vote to gain UN membership, which would be de facto recognition of a Palestinian state.

• The United States, Canada and Germany voted against Palestinian membership.
• Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and France voted in favour.
• Britain abstained.

The UN Security Council is set to meet in November to discuss the bid, launched by PA President Mahmud Abbas in September. Washington has said it will veto any acceptance but it does not have that right at the general assembly.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested a compromise at the time but France voted for the motion at Unesco.

The Palestinians have been Unesco observers since 1974.

The vote, taking during the body’s 26th General Conference that lasts until 10 November.

It opens the door to rows over conflicting Israeli and Palestinian claims to cultural sites, particularly in Jerusalem where the Palestinians claim Israel has used archaeological digs as a pretext to harm Muslim and Arab historical sites.

It also means that Unesco could lose 70 million dollars (50 million euros), or 22 per cent of its annual budget, in funding from Washington.

Two US laws passed in the 1990s ban the financing of any United Nations organisation that accepts Palestine as a full member.