The Palestinian Authority is likely to try and prevent Israel from again becoming a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization if Prime Minister Naftali Bennett indeed decides to pursue the move, Israel Hayom learned Monday.
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The issue was reportedly broached by several US officials in conversations with their Israeli counterparts, as it would go a long way toward facilitating the United States' own return to the agency – something the Biden administration would like to do.
The US and Israel pulled out of UNESCO in 2019 citing growing concerns that the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
The Paris-based organization has been denounced by its critics as a crucible for anti-Israel bias following a series of puzzling decisions questioning Israeli presence in Jerusalem, naming ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites, and granting full membership to the Palestinian Authority in 2011.
Speaking with Israel Hayom, Ramallah officials said that the fact that Israel is "taking its time" on the matter reflects concerns that the PA will use its member status in the agency to block the request, thus significantly embarrassing both Israel and the United States on the global stage.
"Israel demands assurances that Ramallah will not oppose its request to rejoin UNESCO, but at the moment the Israeli demand is ignored," a senior Palestinian source said.
The PA's position "is causing much anger in Washington, and very strong messages have been delivered to Abu Mazen [PA President Mahmoud Abbas] and his close advisers that they shouldn't dare to make a move that will embarrass Israel and the United States," he said.
Jerusalem sources expressed concerns that the PA will use the issue of UNESCO membership as part of its diplomatic and lawfare campaigns against Israel, which involve trying to discredit Israel or preventing it from joining various international organizations.
Much of this effort is also dedicated to trying to pursue legal recourse against the Jewish state at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
An international legal petition to prevent Israel from resuming its membership in the UN's cultural agency could make the process drag out for months, the Israeli source said.
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