Netanyahu decides to hold $2 million Israel transfers to UN cultural body yearly; Israel decided Tuesday to expedite settlement building in West Bank in response to PA's UNESCO membership.
Five European Union member states voted 'No' Monday on admitting Palestine as full member of UNESCO, the United Nations body for culture, science and education: Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Holland and Sweden.
The United States, saying it has no choice, will stop paying its dues to UNESCO following the U.N. cultural agency's vote to grant full membership to the Palestinians.
UNESCO's general assembly will vote Monday or Tuesday on whether to grant Palestine full member status, a move that would cut millions of dollars in US funding to the UN cultural agency, UNESCO sources said.
At joint press conference, PM thanks U.S. president for speaking out against any UN bid to declare Palestinian statehood in his speech to UN General Assembly earlier.
U.S. president addresses UN General Assembly, makes last-ditch effort to prevent Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas from submitting request to UN Security Council for full Palestinian membership on Friday.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared Wednesday that the world is in crisis and urged global leaders to take action to save the planet, prevent conflicts, and support Mideast and North African nations in their quest for democracy.
