Israel cuts UN funding over Security Council settlements vote

Israel says it will withdraw $6 million in funding to the UN following a Security Council vote last month demanding a halt to illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

07 January, 2017

The cut in funding is the first in a series of retaliatory measures [AFP]

Israel suspended around $6 million in funding to the United Nations to protest a Security Council resolution demanding an end to settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The council adopted the resolution last month after the United States refrained from using a veto to block the measure in a break from its usual practice of shielding its Middle East ally.

The cut to Israel's $40 million annual contribution to the United Nations represented the portion of the UN budget allocated to four committees on Palestinian issues, the Israeli mission said.

"It is unreasonable for Israel to fund bodies that operate against us at the UN," Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement.

"We seek to stop the practice where the UN is used solely as a forum for unending attacks against Israel."

The announcement came a day after the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favour of a measure condemning the UN stance and chastising President Barack Obama's administration for abstaining in the Security Council vote.

The cut in funding is the first in a series of retaliatory measures that the Israeli mission said would be taken at the UN after the new US administration takes office.