The mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific and cultural reforms in order to increase respect for justice, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedom as proclaimed in the U.N. Charter. It is best known for its designation and protection of historical sites around the world: Its heritage list includes Stonehenge, China's Great Wall, Mount Fuji, the temples of Nikko and Kyoto, and hundreds more.
There is no mention of politics in that mandate and there is no obvious reason why the organization should be embroiled in political controversies. Yet, today UNESCO is paralyzed by, and risks destruction by, politics. In the latest blow, the United States last week announced that it would withdraw from the organization and Israel said that it will do the same. The next day, UNESCO picked its next director general, former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay. Her first task is reforming the organization to restore solvency and depoliticize its operations.
The U.S. and UNESCO have been at odds since 2011, when all but 14 of its members voted to allow Palestine to join as a member state. That was a direct challenge to U.S. policy: While it favored statehood for Palestine, Washington wanted Israelis and Palestinians to reach their own agreement on sovereignty and membership in international organizations would follow. Reversing the order would change the nature of negotiations between the two parties and make a peace agreement more difficult.