First lady Jill Biden is hosting a celebration at the White House on Tuesday night to mark the United States’ re-admission to the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which it left in 2019. .
She said President Joe Biden is fighting Israel’s war of self-defense against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, which launched a major attack on Israel on October 7 and has so far killed more than 1,400 Israelis. He does so while flying to Israel to express solidarity. .
Last year, Congress passed a bill allowing the United States to rejoin UNESCO and repay membership fees.
Section 7070 on page 1582 of invoice Authorizes the President to waive Section 414 of Public Law 101-246 of 1990, which prohibits U.S. funding to United Nations agencies, giving the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) status equal to that of a member state. And Section 410 of Public Law 103-236 prohibits U.S. funding of the United Nations or related organizations that grant state membership to non-states.
These provisions were activated in 2011, but the Obama administration was reluctant at the time. Forced After UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member state, it decided to cut funding to UNESCO. In 2019, both the United States and Israel left the organization following years of anti-Israel resolutions and overt anti-Semitism, including denial of Jewish ties to the city of Jerusalem, but the United States remained. Tax withholding The amount paid at that time was approximately $550 million.
However, the omnibus states that the U.S. may re-join UNESCO if the president determines that “doing so would enable the United States to counter Chinese influence or advance other U.S. national interests.” They can join and pay out hundreds of millions of dollars in withheld funds. ” is a meaningless and unlimited provision.If applicable, such provision shall be null and void. other The United Nations agency recognized “Palestine” without a formal peace agreement with Israel.
Israel did not oppose the United States’ re-admission to UNESCO, but although it participates in UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, it has not rejoined.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News.
