Senator Dianne Feinstein Reports on Israeli Dispute with UNESCO

Dear Mr. Patterson: Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts on U.S. policy toward the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond. As you may know, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (P.L. 101-246) prohibits funding for any United Nations agency that accords the Palestinians the same standing as UN member states. In October 2011, UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member state, resulting in the withholding of U.S. contributions to that agency.  After failing to pay dues, the United States was stripped of its voting rights within UNESCO on November 8, 2013.  However, on November 11, 2015, the United States was elected to UNESCO’s Executive Board for a term ending on November 11, 2019.  I understand that you oppose U.S. contributions to UNESCO because of a draft resolution criticizing Israel’s actions around the Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem.  You may be interested to know that the Obama Administration criticized UNESCO’s draft resolution.  A State Department spokesperson stated: "We are deeply concerned about these kinds of recurring, politicized resolutions that do nothing to advance constructive results on the ground. And we don't believe they should be adopted.”    Please be assured that I have carefully noted your thoughts on this matter, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers providing funding for UNESCO in FY17. Once again, thank you for writing.  I hope that you will continue to keep me informed about issues of importance to you.  Should you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at www.feinstein.senate.gov.  Best regards. Sincerely yours,   Dianne Feinstein          United States Senator Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the nation are available at my website,feinstein.senate.gov. And please visit my YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for more ways to communicate with me.

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