Bennett suspends Israeli cooperation with UNESCO after Temple Mount vote
Bennett said he made the decision because UNESCO has given a boost to terror.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: OCTOBER 14, 2016 12:21Naftali Bennett on UN's historical denial
Education Minister Nafatali Bennett decided Friday morning to immediately freeze all Israeli cooperation with UNESCO, because of its decision to declare top Jewish holy sites Muslim.Due to Bennett's decision there will be no meetings with UNESCO officials, cooperation in international conference or professional cooperation with the organization.Bennett said he made the decision because UNESCO has given a boost to terror."Your decision denies history and encourages terror," Bennett wrote the countries of UNESCO. "Those who give prizes to the supporters of Jihad in Jerusalem the same week that two Jews are murdered in the city could god forbid encourage more victims.""The western world stands before UNESCO and against terror, just as they oppose terror in Aleppo they must unite against diplomatic terror in Jerusalem. "Bennett will hold a meeting next week in order to decide on further steps.On Thursday, in a 24-6 vote, UNESCO gave preliminary approval to a resolution that denies Jewish ties to its most holy religious sites: the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the vote stating: “The theater of the absurd continues at the UN.”“Today UNESCO adopted its second decision this year denying the Jewish people’s connection to the Temple Mount, our holiest site for more than 3,000 years,” he said. “What’s next? A UNESCO decision denying the connection between peanut butter and jelly? Batman and Robin? Rock ‘n’ roll?”Twenty-six nations abstained from the vote and two were absent.
The six countries that voted in support of Israel were the United States, Great Britain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia.Those who supported the motion included Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Vietnam.Nations that abstained from the vote were: Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, Cote de’Ivoire, El Salvador, Spain, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Paraguay, South Korea, St. Kits and Nevis, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Ukraine.Absent countries included Serbia and Turkmenistan.TOVAH LAZAROFF, HERB KEINON, MICHAEL WILNER and ADAM RASGON contributed to this report.