Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on to submit a formal letter to the organization’s director-general announcing Israel’s exit.
Following in the path of the US, Israel announced its exit from UNESCO, citing “attacks” by the organization. The decision comes after 128 UN members voted to reject President Trump announcement of recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and moving the US Embassy there.
The decision was based on the UN-run agency’s “attempts to disconnect Jewish history from the land of Israel,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said. He added that the official letter of withdrawal to be submitted by the end of the year and that Israel will effectively leave the UN body by the end of 2018.