"The US decision could boomerang because it has the potential of causing an escalation in radical anti-American movements and fundamentalism," Begi Hersutanto, a researcher from the Indonesian Center for Democracy, Defense and Diplomacy said here on Tuesday.
He also criticized the US for its double standards which were reflected in the fact that while the US Constitution upholds the American people`s human rights, the US government`s foreign policy supports or allows the occupation of one country by another.
"The US also tends to take other devious measures, including diplomatic steps and lobbies to pressure various international entities, including Indonesia, not to support Palestine," Begi said.
"It should be remembered that the future of UNESCO will not solely depend on the US because the organization has more than 100 members. However, the funding cut would affect the UN agency`s performance," he said.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) admitted Palestine as a full member after its general assembly voted in favor of the country`s request for admission.
In the vote the kind of which was unprecedented in UNESCO, 107 countries said yes, 14 countries no, and 52 others abstained.
Following the UNESCO vote, the US State Department announced on Monday (Oct 31) the US was cutting funding to the UN agency.
"Today`s vote by the member states of UNESCO to admit Palestine as member is regrettable, premature and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive just and lasing peace in the Middle East," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
"The United States will refrain from making contributions to UNESCO," she said.
US law states that funds must be denied to any organization granting the Palestine Liberation Organization "the same standing as member states.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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