As the eyes of the world are focused on the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations in New York, another troubling chapter is unfolding in Paris. The United States is on the brink of abandoning its decades-long leadership in several international organizations -- a process that will fundamentally undermine American national security and economic interests.
At issue are two laws from the early 1990s that prohibit the United States from providing financial contributions to any United Nations entity that admits Palestine as a member. The laws are strict: if Palestine is admitted to a UN agency, the United States must stop paying its membership dues. The restrictions provide no authority for the president to waive these prohibitions even if it is in the national interest to do so.
With a clear majority of countries around the world prepared to back Palestinian ambitions at the United Nations, the United States is poised to lose its leverage over several UN bodies that advance American interests and promote our ideals.
The damage to Americans of a forced withdrawal would not stop there. The first UN agency from which the United States could be pushed out is UNESCO, which admitted Palestine as a member today. To Americans, UNESCO is best known for designating World Heritage Sites. It also leads global efforts to bring clean water to the poor, promotes educational and curriculum building in the developing world, and manages a tsunami early warning system in the Pacific, among other important tasks. This critical work would be jeopardized if UNESCO's top funder stops paying its bills.
The immediate damage would not be limited to UNESCO. The moment Palestine is admitted to UNESCO it will also clear the path for its entry to the World Intellectual Property Organization. This is a lesser known UN agency that serves American businesses and brands by setting global standards for copyrights and adjudicating cross border patent disputes. In the last year alone, dozens of major American companies brought cases before WIPO -- the American Automobile Association, Apple, The North Face, Costco and Facebook to name just a few. If Palestine joins WIPO, the United States will have to pull out, limiting its ability to steer policies in ways that advance American economic interests and create jobs here at home.
The damage would not stop there. The membership of UN agencies like the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Postal Union, and the International Telecommunications Union are also likely to admit Palestine. Each of these agencies performs tasks that American lawmakers probably take for granted. Thanks to the Universal Postal Union, the Chinese will deliver a package with American postage stamps on it and vice versa. Air traffic controllers in Dubai and Dulles speak the same language because of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Alas, under the 1990s laws, the USA will lose its voice at those organizations once they admit Palestine. Without the United States as a voting participant, perhaps French supplants English as common language of international aviation?
Next on the list of agencies from which the USA would be forced to withdraw is the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization. In recent years the IAEA has been a critical part of American attempts to constrain the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. In 2006, the Bush administration successfully lobbied other members of the IAEA executive board to refer Iran's nuclear program to the Security Council for sanctions. Should the United States stop paying membership dues to the IAEA -- which it could be forced to do under current legislation if Palestine is admitted as a member -- the United States would give up our vote on the executive board. It would literally lose a seat at the table during the next nuclear crisis.
The WHO works closely with the United States -- particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- to keep infectious diseases like the Avian Flu from reaching our shores. If the Palestinians are admitted to the WHO, that cooperation would have to stop under the current law.
Should the U.S. pull out of these organizations, it is not as if these organizations would stop functioning altogether. Rather, an agency like IAEA may have to reduce the number of nuclear inspectors it deploys around the world. Other countries, maybe even America's global rivals, will step into fill the leadership void left by the United States.
As long as these laws remain on the books, Congress is setting the stage for America's waning influence over international affairs. From businesses interests to non-governmental organizations who care about America's influence at the UN, everyone must take a stand and urge Congress to give the President the flexible authority needed protect our national security and economic interests.
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"We’re repeatedly told that the issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are enormously complicated, solvable only by diplomats of unusual skill and ability, and that Israel, always Israel, must take a “chance for peace.” But in its most important respects this conflict, at its core, is quite simple: the Palestinians have yet to make their own inner peace with the existence of a Jewish state. Every failed effort at peace, beginning before Oslo and to this very day, can be traced back to this fundamental truth. Because it is an unpleasant one, many people in the West have simply refused to accept it. It is too unsettling to their premises and presuppositions. And so they proceed in self-deception, demanding that Israel make concessions with a “peace partner” that is, in fact, an implacable and lethal enemy."
Unfortunately, the United States has NO leadership in these international organizations, which is why it was unable to prevent the UNESCO "vote" (despite paying BY FAR the largest contribution to this politicized organization).
While USA pays much of the bill, "leadership" belongs to a number of dictatorships which vote against US interests on most issues. USA certainly does not receive fair value for the money spent.
There is no need to leave these organizations after they admitted "Palestine". There IS a need to act BEFORE they do. USA should start by completely cutting funding of the PLO/Palestinian Authority. This organization is, to a large extent, dependant on US money; indeed, it is likely that US money is paying the expenses of Palestinian envoys to the UN, where they act against US interests & defy the requests of the US administration. The PLO gets the money simply because it portrays itself as "the lesser evil", in comparison with Hamas. In reality, the differences are cosmetic. One must not forget that those who choose "the lesser evil" ultimately choose EVIL, not GOOD.
I do not advocate cutting off US assistance to the West Bank. But why via PLO? So they can line their pockets while taking credit for "growing" with someone else's money? Why not fund projects DIRECTLY -- such as schools teaching a curriculum of peace, not the PLO's doctrine of hate.
The money UNESCO losses from the U.S. will be replaced by Arab States eager to establish a positive representation to the global Muslim community. This positive step also insures that the U.S. realizes just how insane the law condemning Palestine from joint membership really is. I know little about UNESCO, but it sounds like they work to educate citizens in countries hit by devastating poverty. Like Palestine. Its like saying no to the Red Cross.
But I do agree that the same ideological position is going to cause the US problems in the international bodies that even the isolationist exceptionalists know are significant, or even vital, to the US. It will be interesting to see how much of a backlash there is at the G20 (only 4 voted with the US, and I think only 4 more abstentions) the IMF, and the World Bank, as well as what happens, going forward, in the bodies you mentioned.
The US has ideals?
Of course we do: "If we want it, you'll give it to us, or we'll take it anyway." That's the US ideal in a nutshell.
World yawns.
Isolating israel? Good
Showing the level of global support for a free Palestine? Good. Can you say "landslide", israel?
Diluting the israeli-led US veto over Palestinian freedom? Good.
If the US is losing out because of a historically bad law just change the law.
Looks good from here.
This article is about other UN bodies -- places where the US does not have a veto, and many of which are not even headquartered in the United States. Please try to stay on topic.
Hence, we should recognize Palestine, because it is the only fair and humane thing to do and let the two countries (Palestine and Israel) sort it out in negotiations. It will be easier if both are seen and treated equally. it would be even easier if the U.S. would to treat both equally.
Not will damage but HAS damaged it beyond recognition
Would you want to see as a world power. China, Russia? Who could lead the world if not the US? Most countries do not have the capability or the will to do what it takes to lead.
Removing support from Israel will not win the US any support. The Arabs will not love them more. Those who hate the US will continue to hate them.