Three British authors said today that UNESCO’s anti-Israel resolutions went beyond the issues of Middle East politics and the Arab-Israeli conflict by posing a threat to the very principles of intellectual and cultural self-determination. That is the reason they participated in the recent conference in Paris on the Universality of UNESCO Lynn Reid-Banks, Michael Kustow and Alan Silitoe told a press conference here.
The anti-Israel resolutions, the exclusion of Israel from UNESCO’s regional groupings, highlighted the tendency of that organization, which was created to promote the free exchange of culture, science and technological know-how, to degenerate into yet another political arena run by civil servants and government representatives, the three writers said. They described the exclusion of Israel as an alarming illustration of the way politics can stifle the good will of the world’s scientists, artists and educators.
Meanwhile, a British National Committee to campaign for the withdrawal of UNESCO’s anti-Israel resolutions is in the process of formation. The committee will take the matter up with the Ministry for Overseas Development which is responsible for relations with UNESCO
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