UNESCO Membership and the Future of Palestine

Mohammad Irani

Regardless of the intentions behind the decision, the Palestinian National Authority’s bid for UNESCO membership-- and its subsequent approval-- is a step forward. UNESCO, a nonpolitical organization by definition, at least found the opportunity to register the valuable historical heritage of Palestine-- sacred land for the Abrahamic religions-- and to protect the Islamic heritage in Palestine, e.g. the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Nativity Church of Bethlehem, from Israel's deliberate destruction. All in all, any measure that officially recognizes the Palestinians’ rights and acknowledges their history is a constructive step. This is a fact that has even brought support from the pro-resistance movements such as Hamas.

Despite its worthiness, Mahmoud Abbas’ UNESCO achievement –part of his larger project to gain admittance for his country to the United Nations-- lacks political value and will not significantly aid the Palestinian Authority to become an official UN member. The tough part is self-determination of the Palestinian nation, Israeli forces’ withdrawal from Occupied Territories, and a halt on construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem. Those are the sensitive issues hitting Israel's interests hard at the core.

The admission of Palestine to UNESCO provoked the severe reaction of the US, as it announced that it would cut off financial support for the organization (based on US law). Washington’s position in response to the PA’s bid substantiates the alignment between Washington and Tel Aviv vis-à-vis any Palestinian initiative in the international arena. It reveals that for the US, a good Mahmoud Abbas is an agreeable Mahmoud Abbas; one who calibrates all his decisions with the US’ Middle East strategies. Nonetheless, instead of serving as evidence of pro-Israel lobbies influence over Obama's policies, the PA’s decision could be used by the White House as the trump card against Netanyahu, who has shown a great deal of reluctance to negotiate with the Palestinians since his rise to power; something that had even vexed the Democrats in the White House in the early months of their administration.