Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki has asked Moscow’s ambassador to the PA to clarify why Russia initiated a successful motion at UNESCO last week to postpone a series of Arab-sponsored resolutions condemning Israel, reports the Ma’an news agency.
UN Watch welcomed the surprise turn of events and praised all the delegates who supported Russia’s proposal at an executive board meeting in Paris to postpone voting for six months — on five one-sided and politicized resolutions sponsored by Syria, Jordan and PA — which passed by 28 votes to 23. See full Haaretz story here.
Al-Malki told Ma’an he did not know why Russia suggested the delay but that he summoned the Russian ambassador to a meeting to explain the decision. He said the delay was “unfortunate” and would “allow Israel to continue its attacks on Palestinians.”
UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer called on UNESCO to put an end to its 40-year campaign to delegitimize Israel.
According to a study by UN Watch, UNESCO singles out Israel systematically.
For example:
- In 2009, UNESCO adopted eight decisions against Israel at the 181st and 182nd sessions of the Executive Board, and two resolutions against Israel at the 35th session of the General Conference.
- In 2010, UNESCO adopted 10 decisions against Israel at the 184th and 185th sessions of the Executive board.
- In 2011, UNESCO again adopted 10 decisions against Israel at the 186th and 187th sessions of the Executive Board and two resolutions against Israel at the 36th session of the General Conference.
During this same time period, UN Watch’s examination of all UNESCO Executive Board decisions and UNESCO General Conference resolutions showed that not a single other country in the world was censured even once.
