Israel, US pull out of UNESCO
These are the headlines we are tracking for you in this episode of On the News Line:
Israel, US pull out of UNESCO
It’s been described as a full show of support for Israel: The administration of US president Donald Trump has decided to withdraw from United Nation’s cultural agency or UNESCO. The reason? The body’s alleged anti-Israel stance. The withdrawal will take effect on 31 December 2018. The US is set to establish an observer mission at the agency. The row started back in 2011 when, despite opposition from the US and Israel, UNESCO members granted Palestine full membership. Back then, the US cancelled its substantial budget contribution to UNESCO to protest the decision. The US withdrawal decision has drawn widespread condemnation. UN chief Antonio Gutteres has expressed his “deep regrets”. And Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says the decision shows US administration’s “complete and total bias toward Israel.
Trump's anti-Iran threats
The US president unveiling his much-anticipated strategy on Iran including his plan for the nuclear deal between Tehran and the p5+1 group of countries. Trump began his comments by leveling accusation after accusation against Iran. He blamed the Islamic republic for the deaths of the US troops across the Middle East in the past. He then turned to the nuclear agreement, threatening to terminate it if he can’t reach an agreement with Congress and its allies. Trump said the sunset clause in the accord is among a number of drawbacks to the deal known as JCPOA. Trump said he had authorized the Treasury to impose sanctions on Iran’s revolutionary guards corps. Trump also said the sanctions relief under the JCPOA resulted in Iran receiving a huge sum of money, adding he has decided to no longer certify the JCPOA. Israel and Saudi Arabia have welcomed trump’s comments. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates Trump for boldly confronting Iran. Saudi Arabia said lifting sanctions has allowed Iran to develop its ballistic missile program and step up its support for militant groups. Both the Saudi and the Israeli regimes are seen by many as negative players in the middle east. Riyadh is the main sponsor of militant groups wreaking havoc in the region while Tel Aviv constantly threatens regional nations with war.
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