Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: In a move that signals a tectonic shift in international diplomacy, Israel has announced its immediate withdrawal from seven United Nations agencies and affiliated bodies. The decision, framed as a stand against "systemic anti-Israel bias" and "bloated bureaucracy," comes just days after the United States pulled out of 66 international organisations.
The severed ties
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed the sweeping decision, noting that it follows a comprehensive review of Israel’s international engagements triggered by the recent US exit. Sa’ar stated that Israel will "immediately sever all contact" with the targeted bodies, characterising the move as a necessary response to organisations that either fail to function effectively or consistently act with hostility toward the Jewish state.
"The decision reflects a broader examination of organisations that consistently act against Israel or fail to function effectively," Sa’ar remarked, hinting that this may only be the beginning of a larger diplomatic restructuring.
The 'shameless' blacklist and failed protections
Central to the withdrawal is the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict. In 2024, this body blacklisted the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), a move Sa’ar described as "shameless," particularly as it placed a democratic nation in the same category as terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. Israel had already begun distancing itself from this office in June 2023.
Furthermore, Israel has officially terminated its cooperation with UN Women. The government accused the agency of a catastrophic failure to acknowledge or condemn the sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli women during the October 7, 2023, attacks. Formal notification has been sent to the UN Secretary-General that all engagement with the body will cease as of July 2024.
Economic and political friction
The list of abandoned agencies also includes those accused of producing "virulent anti-Israel reports," such as the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Sa’ar argued that these bodies have long served as vehicles for political attacks rather than objective international cooperation.
Bureaucracy and exclusion
Israel’s exit also extends to organisations deemed inefficient or exclusionary, including the UN Alliance of Civilisations, founded by Turkey and Spain. Sa’ar alleged the body has become a platform for attacks against Israel while simultaneously excluding Israeli participation from interfaith dialogues.
The Foreign Ministry also announced that the country's exit from UN Energy and the Global Forum on Migration and Development, citing as a prime example of the UN’s "excessive and inefficient bureaucracy."
A future of review for Israel
The Foreign Ministry has been officially instructed to conduct a "thorough review" of every other international organisation in which Israel remains a member. Working in coordination with other government departments, the ministry aims to determine if further "withdrawals are necessary to align with Israel's national security and diplomatic interests".
This coordinated exit with the United States marks a historic low point in the relationship between the UN and these two allies, as they seek to bypass what they describe as a dysfunctional global governance system.
