Posted on 11/01/2011 4:19:12 AM PDT by Olog-hai
Just five EU countries voted No on admitting Palestine to the UN heritage agency, Unesco, in an indication of loyalties on the big question of UN membership. The Czech republic, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden voted against the move at the Paris-based agency on Monday (31 October). Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia and Spain voted Yes. Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the UK abstained.
Amid wide support from Muslim, African and Latin American countries, Palestine won the vote by 107 to 14 with 52 abstentions. …
For his part, Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki said the vote is "in no way linked to our request to join the United Nations." But the result is an indication of how EU countries might vote in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on upgrading Palestine's status to a "non-member state" like the Vatican. It also highlights divisions in EU foreign policy, with the bloc's three main powers—France, Germany and the UK—each voting a different way. …
Israel in the past two months authorised thousands of new homes for Jews on Palestinian land, however. Its foreign minister has launched verbal attacks on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Its recent firefight with Gaza-based militants Islamic Jihad also bodes ill. Meanwhile, the new settlements are deepening Israel's isolation. German press reported on Monday that Berlin has threatened to stop delivery of a Dolphin class submarine, capable of firing nuclear missiles, to the Jewish state over its plan to build new homes in the Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem.
(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...
Palestine?
So are they feeling sorry for Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Israel?
There, fixed it for you.
Anything that gets us out of UNESCO has a silver lining...
I didn’t think there was a country called Palestine.
The United States was going to make a $60 million payment in November, and will now not do so, she said.
Some U.S. lawmakers had called on the Obama administration to withhold funding to UNESCO if the measure was approved.
Well, isn't that nice. Some US lawmakers are "asking" Obama to withhold payments. Did they make sure to say "pretty please"?
The lawmakers cited U.S. law, which states that funds must be denied to any organization granting the Palestine Liberation Organization "the same standing as member states."
It is an indication how far we have gone down the road to despotism that when members of the US Congress point out the requirements of the law, it is called "asking" the President to do something.
Congress should not be "asking". Congress should be telling. And, regardless of how they feel about the rule, every member of Congress should be standing shoulder to shoulder, 435 Congressmen and 100 Senators, to demand that the President follow the law.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Reagan pulled us out of UNESCO and we didn't rejoin till GWB. We didn't miss them, they got along without us.
“Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia and Spain voted Yes.”
Dhimmis
“Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and the UK abstained.”
Cowards
“The Czech republic, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden voted against the move “
God bless them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.