"It`s regrettable that the US has decided to cut off its funding assistance to UNESCO which has been promoting education, culture and sciences," Tantowi said recently.
The Indonesian government had taken the right step by supporting Palestine`s admission into UNESCO, he said
The government should move forward and not be intimidated or deterred by countries such as the United States and Israel which do not want to see a sovereign Palestinian state on this Earth, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Syamsuar Basyariah, rector of the Meulaboh Islamic Institute (STAI) in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province, expressed his support for Palestine`s membership in UNESCO.
The UNESCO`s decision to admit Palestine as a full member was the right step and in accordance with human right principles, he said.
He called on all Muslims to pray for the independence of Palestine.
Virtuous Setyaka, an international political observer from Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra Province, said the cessation of US funding assistance to UNESCO would not be a serious problem.
He said it should even be used as a momentum for the United Nations, UNESCO in particular, to carry out reforms to make them more acceptable to countries throughout the world.
"However, it`s still regrettable that the US made a decision that ignores humanitarian values," he said, adding that ironically President Barack Obama was trying to improve his country`s image in the Islamic world.
The US stance had also impaired Washington`s role as a peace broker in the Israel-Palestine conflict, he said.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to admit Palestine as a full member on Monday (Oct 31).
The United States decided to cut funding to UNESCO after the agency voted to accept Palestine`s bid for full membership.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
