UNESCO Resolution On Israel is “Defamatory and Problematic in the Extreme,” ADL Says

New York, NY, May 2, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the UNESCO Executive Board’s newest resolution relating to Jerusalem and other issues.

The U.N.’s cultural and scientific organization’s latest resolution was harshly critical of alleged Israeli actions and policies. But, in contrast to recent resolutions, affirmed Jerusalem’s significance to the three monotheistic religions, among other changes.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:

Let there be no mistake. While an improvement on recent output by the UNESCO Executive Board, this resolution on ‘Occupied Palestine’ submitted by Algeria, Egypt Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan is defamatory and problematic in the extreme.

The final vote shows the majority of member countries did not vote affirmatively for this resolution. With 22 in favor, 10 against and 26 abstaining or absent, the vote reflects member states’ unease with the biased and undue focus on Israel. Such unbalanced resolutions only sow distrust in the reliability and fairness of international institutions.

We recognize and salute the moral leadership of those countries that voted no:  The United States, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Paraguay, Netherlands, Togo, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. We further express our appreciation to UNESCO Secretary General Irina Bokova for her rejection of efforts within UNESCO to erase or diminish the Jewish connection to Jerusalem.