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Palestine won full admission into UNESCO, the United Nations science, education and cultural heritage organization, in a closely watched vote in Paris Monday. Global diplomacy hands view the 107-14 vote as a benchmark carrying larger implications for the Palestinians' bid for state recognition before the UN Security Council. Both the United States and Israel have strongly opposed both initiatives. The United States, Israel, Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia were among the 14 nations voting against the Palestinians' UNESCO bid, while 107 countries--including France, Spain, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, India, Russia, China, South Africa and Indonesia--voted in favor. Fourteen nations--including the United Kingdom and Italy--abstained.
Washington, which called the UNESCO vote "premature" Monday, has threatened to cut off funding to UNESCO if Palestine is granted membership. The United States currently accounts for about one-fifth of the organization's budget.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also rejected the UNESCO vote, and warned it would set back peace process.
"This is a unilateral Palestinian maneuver which will bring no change on the ground but further removes the possibility for a peace agreement," the Israeli ministry said in a statement. "This decision will not turn the Palestinian Authority into an actual state yet places unnecessary burdens on the route to renewing negotiations."
Palestine's successful UNESCO bid comes as Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair is due to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House Monday.
Blair has been trying to advance the Quartet's efforts to get the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table, asking each side to lay out their specific terms for resolving the issues of borders and security for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have been depicting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as an unworthy peace partner.
Abbas, in turn, has recently reiterated his periodic threat to dissolve the Palestinian Authority--a move that if carried out would presumably give Israel the burden of administering, funding, and coordinating security for the West Bank's Palestinian population.
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His government said it was reconsidering its cooperation with UNESCO.
The request to grant Palestine full membership passed 107-14, with 52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were needed for approval — or two-thirds of the 173 eligible member delegations present. There are now 195 members in all.
In a surprise, France voted "yes" — and the room erupted in cheers. It was joined by Ireland, Austria and the Arab states. The "no" votes included the United States, Israel, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, while many American allies abstained, including Japan, Britain and New Zealand.
Monday's vote is definitive, and the membership formally takes effect when Palestine signs UNESCO's founding charter.
It is part of a broader Palestinian quest for greater international recognition in hopes of moving closer to statehood through channels other than simply negotiations with Israel.
There, however, are concerns that strategy could backfire. Before the vote, Israel's outspoken foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said that if the measure passed, Israel should cut off ties with the Palestinian Authority. It was not clear whether he was voicing government policy.
By contrast, Malki said he hoped the vote would only provide momentum for the Palestinians' quest for statehood. But he added that it was no substitute for the Palestinians' more high-profile request for admission to the United Nations.
The Obama administration has vowed to use its veto power in the Security Council to quash Palestinian membership in the broader U.N., but had been hoping it wouldn't come to that since wielding its veto could undermine the United States' typically pivotal role as negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians.
However, Malki, indicated Monday that he thought he had enough support to win a Security Council vote, which has not yet been scheduled.
UNESCO, like many U.N. agencies, is a part of the world body but has separate membership procedures and can make its own decisions about which countries belong. The disconnect between memberships is rare but not unprecedented. Two tiny Pacific island nations — the Cook Islands and Niue — are members of UNESCO but not the U.N., while Liechtenstein belongs to the larger world body but not the cultural agency.
Even if the vote's impact isn't felt right away in the Mideast, it will be quickly felt at UNESCO, which protects historic heritage sites and works to improve world literacy, access to schooling for girls and cultural understanding. One of the first concrete results of Palestine's membership could be that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is listed as a world heritage site; the Palestinians have already prepared an application for the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
In addition to the reduction in funding, the vote will also set back UNESCO's efforts in recent years to shed its image as an anti-Israeli agency. When the U.S. pulled out of UNESCO in the 1980s, it was to protest the passage of a resolution equating Zionism with racism.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has been at the forefront of remaking the agency's image, and she expressed concern about the vote's effect.
"It is my responsibility to say that I am concerned by the potential challenges that may arise to the universality and financial stability of the organization," Bokova said. "I am worried we may confront a situation that could erode UNESCO as a universal platform for dialogue. I am worried for the stability of its budget."
While the U.S. has cut off funding — which typically amounts to $80 million annually — Washington has said it will remain a member, though if it fails to pay its dues for two years, it will lose its vote.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was up to member states "to ensure the United Nations system as a whole consistent political and financial support."
MAOZ:
Following two prisoner-swap deals, the Palestinians are now demanding the release of more terrorists before they will consider returning to negotiations with Israel. Turkey is saying that despite the help Israel sent after the earthquake there will be no warming up of the relationship between the two countries. After many days of silence, Hamas terrorists in Gaza launched a Grad rocket into Israel. These are just some of the news stories from the last couple of days, and this is exactly why we are in Israel. Israel without her God is helpless, hopeless, and has no future. But the Bible promises for Israel (and the world) after our nation recognizes Messiah Yeshua are glorious! We rejoice in the opportunities God is providing us to reach our fellow countrymen through your help!
STAFF CHANGES AT MAOZ
This month we said goodbye and said hello.
Jim and Barbara Morrison from our Maoz office in the U.S., with close to 30 years of service with Maoz between them, retired last week.
Jim is responsible for organizing the "LORD, Help Israel!" daily prayer that now has over 1,200 people who signed up to pray on the "LORD, Help Israel!" website and over 500 followers on our "LORD, Help Israel!" Facebook page.
Barbara has been the USA office coordinator for many years, and so many of our partnerss will miss her!
We thank them for their faithful service and love for this ministry and wish them all the best! We will miss you!
Our office in Israel - specifically the Media Department - has welcomed two new workers this month - a new video editor and new video department manager.
We thank God for providing these key people for our ministry and welcome them both to the team!
MAOZ NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
The first two articles of the November Maoz Israel Report provide a thorough look into President Obama's Middle East policy.
Shira Sorko-Ram examines (from a point of view of an Israeli believer) the mistakes this U.S. President made in relating to Israel and the surrounding Muslim Arab nations.
The articles describe specific mistakes made by the Obama administration and how these mistakes are now being taken advantage of by the Palestinians in refusing to go back to Peace Talks with Israel.
Another fascinating article, written by a former Prime Minister of Spain is titled "If Israel goes down, we all go down." Enough said!
Look for our November Maoz Israel Report in your email Inbox soon!DONATION: https://secure2.convio.net/maoz/site/Donation2?idb=1503054578&df_id=1140&1140.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=6wk6fabti1.app207a
God curses all countries that are against Israel and blesses all countries that are in favor of Israel.
PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND SHALOM!
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Delegates applaused as UNESCO voted to give Palestine membership. (RT)
Washington, which called the UNESCO vote "premature" Monday, has threatened to cut off funding to UNESCO if Palestine is granted membership. The United States currently accounts for about one-fifth of the organization's budget.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also rejected the UNESCO vote, and warned it would set back peace process.
"This is a unilateral Palestinian maneuver which will bring no change on the ground but further removes the possibility for a peace agreement," the Israeli ministry said in a statement. "This decision will not turn the Palestinian Authority into an actual state yet places unnecessary burdens on the route to renewing negotiations."
Palestine's successful UNESCO bid comes as Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair is due to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House Monday.
Blair has been trying to advance the Quartet's efforts to get the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table, asking each side to lay out their specific terms for resolving the issues of borders and security for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have been depicting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as an unworthy peace partner.
Abbas, in turn, has recently reiterated his periodic threat to dissolve the Palestinian Authority--a move that if carried out would presumably give Israel the burden of administering, funding, and coordinating security for the West Bank's Palestinian population.
NEW 2
PARIS (AP) — Palestine won its greatest international endorsement yet on Monday, full membership in UNESCO, but the move will cost the agency one-fifth of its funding and some fear will send Mideast peace efforts off a cliff.
In an unusually dramatic session at the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, there were cheers for "yes" votes and grumbles for the "no's" and abstentions. When the results were in, many delegates jumped to their feet and applauded and someone let out a cry of "Long live Palestine!" in French.
"Joy fills my heart. This is really a historic moment," said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. "It's the return of he who was banished."
But the jubilation was quickly pierced by reality: The United States said it wouldn't make a $60 million payment to fill out its contributions for this year and would suspend all future funding.
UNESCO depends heavily on that money — Washington provides 22 percent of its budget — but has survived without it in the past: The United States pulled out of UNESCO under President Ronald Reagan, rejoining two decades later under President George W. Bush.
Monday's vote was a grand symbolic victory for the Palestinians, but it alone won't make Palestine a state. The issues of borders for an eventual Palestinian state, security, a solution for Palestinian refugees, the fate of Jerusalem and other disputes that have thwarted Middle East peace for decades remain unresolved. Some argued it would even make it harder for the Palestinians to reach their goal.White House spokesman Jay Carney called UNESCO's decision "premature" and said it undermines the international community's efforts toward a comprehensive Middle East peace plan. He called it a distraction from the goal of restarting direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israeli Ambassador Nimrod Barkan said the decision did "a great disservice to international law and to chances for peace."
"UNESCO deals in science, not science fiction," he said in a speech to delegates after the vote. "However, a large number of member states, though most emphatically less than two-thirds of the member states of this organization, have adopted a science fiction version of reality."His government said it was reconsidering its cooperation with UNESCO.
The request to grant Palestine full membership passed 107-14, with 52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were needed for approval — or two-thirds of the 173 eligible member delegations present. There are now 195 members in all.
In a surprise, France voted "yes" — and the room erupted in cheers. It was joined by Ireland, Austria and the Arab states. The "no" votes included the United States, Israel, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, while many American allies abstained, including Japan, Britain and New Zealand.
Monday's vote is definitive, and the membership formally takes effect when Palestine signs UNESCO's founding charter.
It is part of a broader Palestinian quest for greater international recognition in hopes of moving closer to statehood through channels other than simply negotiations with Israel.
There, however, are concerns that strategy could backfire. Before the vote, Israel's outspoken foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said that if the measure passed, Israel should cut off ties with the Palestinian Authority. It was not clear whether he was voicing government policy.
By contrast, Malki said he hoped the vote would only provide momentum for the Palestinians' quest for statehood. But he added that it was no substitute for the Palestinians' more high-profile request for admission to the United Nations.
The Obama administration has vowed to use its veto power in the Security Council to quash Palestinian membership in the broader U.N., but had been hoping it wouldn't come to that since wielding its veto could undermine the United States' typically pivotal role as negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians.
However, Malki, indicated Monday that he thought he had enough support to win a Security Council vote, which has not yet been scheduled.
UNESCO, like many U.N. agencies, is a part of the world body but has separate membership procedures and can make its own decisions about which countries belong. The disconnect between memberships is rare but not unprecedented. Two tiny Pacific island nations — the Cook Islands and Niue — are members of UNESCO but not the U.N., while Liechtenstein belongs to the larger world body but not the cultural agency.
Even if the vote's impact isn't felt right away in the Mideast, it will be quickly felt at UNESCO, which protects historic heritage sites and works to improve world literacy, access to schooling for girls and cultural understanding. One of the first concrete results of Palestine's membership could be that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is listed as a world heritage site; the Palestinians have already prepared an application for the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
In addition to the reduction in funding, the vote will also set back UNESCO's efforts in recent years to shed its image as an anti-Israeli agency. When the U.S. pulled out of UNESCO in the 1980s, it was to protest the passage of a resolution equating Zionism with racism.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has been at the forefront of remaking the agency's image, and she expressed concern about the vote's effect.
"It is my responsibility to say that I am concerned by the potential challenges that may arise to the universality and financial stability of the organization," Bokova said. "I am worried we may confront a situation that could erode UNESCO as a universal platform for dialogue. I am worried for the stability of its budget."
While the U.S. has cut off funding — which typically amounts to $80 million annually — Washington has said it will remain a member, though if it fails to pay its dues for two years, it will lose its vote.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was up to member states "to ensure the United Nations system as a whole consistent political and financial support."
"As such, we will need to work on tactical solutions to preserve UNESCO's financial resources," he said, while urging a negotiated solution to Mideast peace.
____
Klapper reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Dalia Nammari in Ramallah, Edith Lederer at the United Nations and Joe Federman in Jerusalem contributed.
MAOZ:
Following two prisoner-swap deals, the Palestinians are now demanding the release of more terrorists before they will consider returning to negotiations with Israel. Turkey is saying that despite the help Israel sent after the earthquake there will be no warming up of the relationship between the two countries. After many days of silence, Hamas terrorists in Gaza launched a Grad rocket into Israel. These are just some of the news stories from the last couple of days, and this is exactly why we are in Israel. Israel without her God is helpless, hopeless, and has no future. But the Bible promises for Israel (and the world) after our nation recognizes Messiah Yeshua are glorious! We rejoice in the opportunities God is providing us to reach our fellow countrymen through your help!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARI AND SHIRA!
Both Ari and Shira were born in the month of October. But while we will not be revealing Shira's young age, we can tell you that Ari is turning 70 years young this year!
On behalf of our international staff, congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv, and all of you, our partners, we would like to wish them both a Happy and Blessed Birthday.
Thank you, Ari and Shira, for dedicating your lives to the work of God. Thank you for giving selflessly and tirelessly to all those around you. Thank you for mentoring, teaching, encouraging, correcting, imparting, and most of all being an example of the love of God.
We pray you have many more years of service together for the salvation of Israel. May the Lord grant you the desire of your heart - to see the day when All Israel Shall be Saved!
If you would like to send an email or e-card to Ari and Shira, please send it to maozisrael@maozisrael.org. They always love to hear from you!
Both Ari and Shira were born in the month of October. But while we will not be revealing Shira's young age, we can tell you that Ari is turning 70 years young this year!On behalf of our international staff, congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv, and all of you, our partners, we would like to wish them both a Happy and Blessed Birthday.
Thank you, Ari and Shira, for dedicating your lives to the work of God. Thank you for giving selflessly and tirelessly to all those around you. Thank you for mentoring, teaching, encouraging, correcting, imparting, and most of all being an example of the love of God.
We pray you have many more years of service together for the salvation of Israel. May the Lord grant you the desire of your heart - to see the day when All Israel Shall be Saved!
If you would like to send an email or e-card to Ari and Shira, please send it to maozisrael@maozisrael.org. They always love to hear from you!
PRAYING FOR A SOLDIER
Every Saturday our congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv prays for our soldiers. This includes soldiers from our congregation, all believing soldiers in the country, and the entire IDF. We pray for protection, guidance, salvation...
For almost five-and-a-half years our congregation has been faithfully praying for one specific soldier - Gilad Shalit - who was in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Just over a week ago we saw the answer to our prayers when Gilad came home!
We thought this would be a great place to thank our faithful God for answering our prayers and the prayers of all Israel (and yours, of course!) and returning this soldier home to his family and his country.
We rejoice with the Shalit family, and continue praying for Gilad's complete healing and salvation for him and his family.
Every Saturday our congregation Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv prays for our soldiers. This includes soldiers from our congregation, all believing soldiers in the country, and the entire IDF. We pray for protection, guidance, salvation...For almost five-and-a-half years our congregation has been faithfully praying for one specific soldier - Gilad Shalit - who was in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Just over a week ago we saw the answer to our prayers when Gilad came home!
We thought this would be a great place to thank our faithful God for answering our prayers and the prayers of all Israel (and yours, of course!) and returning this soldier home to his family and his country.
We rejoice with the Shalit family, and continue praying for Gilad's complete healing and salvation for him and his family.
SHIRA IN THE U.K.
This October Shira had an opportunity to speak at several venues in the U.K., including a live interview on Revelation TV. She spoke on one of her favorite subjects - the importance of Israel in the last days.
It is always a wonderful opportunity to speak to people who know little about Israel, as well as to those who love and support Israel.
Also this month, our co-laborer, Ron Cantor, addressed the student body at Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas during the annual "Bless Israel Day." The importance of imparting the knowledge and love for Israel to these students is beyond measure.
In November, Shira will be traveling to Dallas where she will be the featured speaker during the morning chapel each day at Christ for the Nations Institute.
This October Shira had an opportunity to speak at several venues in the U.K., including a live interview on Revelation TV. She spoke on one of her favorite subjects - the importance of Israel in the last days.It is always a wonderful opportunity to speak to people who know little about Israel, as well as to those who love and support Israel.
Also this month, our co-laborer, Ron Cantor, addressed the student body at Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas during the annual "Bless Israel Day." The importance of imparting the knowledge and love for Israel to these students is beyond measure.
In November, Shira will be traveling to Dallas where she will be the featured speaker during the morning chapel each day at Christ for the Nations Institute.
STAFF CHANGES AT MAOZ
This month we said goodbye and said hello. Jim and Barbara Morrison from our Maoz office in the U.S., with close to 30 years of service with Maoz between them, retired last week.
Jim is responsible for organizing the "LORD, Help Israel!" daily prayer that now has over 1,200 people who signed up to pray on the "LORD, Help Israel!" website and over 500 followers on our "LORD, Help Israel!" Facebook page.
Barbara has been the USA office coordinator for many years, and so many of our partnerss will miss her!
We thank them for their faithful service and love for this ministry and wish them all the best! We will miss you!
Our office in Israel - specifically the Media Department - has welcomed two new workers this month - a new video editor and new video department manager.
We thank God for providing these key people for our ministry and welcome them both to the team!
The first two articles of the November Maoz Israel Report provide a thorough look into President Obama's Middle East policy. Shira Sorko-Ram examines (from a point of view of an Israeli believer) the mistakes this U.S. President made in relating to Israel and the surrounding Muslim Arab nations.
The articles describe specific mistakes made by the Obama administration and how these mistakes are now being taken advantage of by the Palestinians in refusing to go back to Peace Talks with Israel.
Another fascinating article, written by a former Prime Minister of Spain is titled "If Israel goes down, we all go down." Enough said!
Look for our November Maoz Israel Report in your email Inbox soon!DONATION: https://secure2.convio.net/maoz/site/Donation2?idb=1503054578&df_id=1140&1140.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=6wk6fabti1.app207a
God curses all countries that are against Israel and blesses all countries that are in favor of Israel.
PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND SHALOM!
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