UNESCO’s Director General Amadou Mahtar M’Bow and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have been requested to bring about a full disclosure of a French archaeological expert’s report on a study he made on Israeli excavations in Jerusalem. Rep, Benjamin A. Gilman (R.NY) revealed today that he has written M’Bow and also Rene Maheu, UNESCO’s former Director General, asking them to make public the report by Prof. Raymond Lemaire and “any and all information which might enhance public understanding of this matter.”
Lemaire prepared the report last fall after having been commissioned by UNESCO to study the excavations. UNESCO made public selected portions of it in depriving Israel of membership privileges, including suspension of funds for UNESCO projects and barring Israel from a regional UNESCO organization. In retaliation for what was described as politicization of the United Nations Scientific, Cultural and Educational Organization, the Congress last December suspended U.S. contributions to UNESCO until it resolved the matter in Israel’s favor.
REPORT MAY BE FAVORABLE TO ISRAEL
Gilman wants the House committee to make a formal demand on UNESCO to release the “suppressed report on the controversial Israeli archaeological excavations in Jerusalem.” At the State Department, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed that it was doubtful whether one government could cause the report to be issued by the UNESCO Director General.
“Conflicting reports have been received about the content of this report,” Gilman said. “However, the most prevalent impression among those who have seen the report is that it is favorable to Israel.”
He added, “It is shocking to think that the United Nations would deliberately suppress any information favorable to Israel in order to justify a vendetta against that State. As our nation re-examines its role in the world organization, it is crucial to restoring the confidence of the American people that this report be made public. We must not continue to bow to the tyranny of the United Nations majority at the expense of our allies and friends.”
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