Why it Is in news?

• The United States and Israel have both withdrawn from the UN’s Science, Uulture and Education agency UNESCO after accusing it of having an anti-Israeli bias.

US stand and date of exit

• According to US it reflects U.S. concerns-
•  with mounting arrears at UNESCO
• the need for fundamental reform in the organisation
• continuing anti-Israel bias.
• Under UNESCO rules, the U.S. withdrawal will become effective as of the end of December 2018.

US stand on Palestine

• Washington supports a future independent Palestinian state
• But this should emerge out of peace talks
• It considers it unhelpful for international organisations to admit Palestine until negotiations are complete.

Israel's stand

• Israel has repeatedly complained about what it says is the body taking sides in disputes over cultural heritage sites in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
• An Arab-backed UNESCO resolution last year condemned Israeli’s policies at religious sites in East Jerusalam and the West Bank.

What Is UNESCO?

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
• Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
• It is the successor of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.