Palestinian Territory

UNESCO General Conference

With a vote of one hundred seven to fourteen (107-14) in favor of Palestine, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Palestine a full member of its organization at its UNESCO General Conference. There was much speculation as to whether the vote would sway in Palestine’s favor because of the United States’ threat to cut funding to UNESCO if it had admitted Palestine as a member to its committee. The US currently makes up around twenty-two percent of UNESCO’s funding.

Palestine won its membership by a very large margin Monday. Although Secretary of State for the United States, Hilary Clinton, admitted that the US would not cut funding if members of other organizations supported Palestine’s bid, the US ambassador to UNESCO, David Killion, was reported claiming that this outcome might indeed “complicate” the US’ support of UNESCO. On the other hand, it seems as though France has become a big supporter of Palestine’s mission for statehood. The representative for France at the UNESCO conference praised Palestine after hearing it had become a member. There have also been many reports of celebrations through the streets of Paris after the announcement was released Monday. Although the United States has vowed to veto Palestine’s bid for statehood to the United Nations Security Council, it appears Palestine has anticipated this by appealing to other UN bodies. Perhaps the idea is that if the United States sees the overwhelming support by other states and bodies of the UN, it will be pressured to also support its bid for statehood. Palestine seems to be winning over much support diplomatically and through no extreme force at all. Although this was a big win for Palestine, it still has a long way to go on its quest for statehood. If it keeps up the good public relations aspect of its aim at diplomacy, perhaps it will win over the US. Even so, the details of boarders, laws, and security will not be easy to decide or work out with Israel, as neither Palestine nor Israel has made any progress in diplomacy or compromise in many years.

Liberal

http://tehrantimes.com/index.php/middle-east/4131-palestine-becomes-member-of-un-cultural-body

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15525196

November 4, 2011 at 04:40 am