Washington - "Jerusalem" dot com - Saeed Erekat - The US Congress paved the way for President Joe Biden's administration to return to the "United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO", which could open the way for a possible political battle over the recognition of the United Nations cultural organization as a state Palestinian.

And the United States, during the administration of President Barack Obama, had cut funding for the organization, due to the organization’s decision to accept Palestine as an independent state in 2011, then the United States withdrew from UNESCO in 2019 under the administration of former US President Donald Trump, and the initial funding cut came as part of A law to cut off US support for UN agencies if they recognize a Palestinian state independent of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

The comprehensive congressional bill passed by Congress on Thursday (22/12/2022) authorizes President Biden to pay hundreds of millions in overdue dues and rejoin the organization to which the United States was previously the largest donor, as Washington traditionally contributed $80 million annually, i.e. About 22 percent of the organization's budget.

The new legislative exception requires the US president to certify to Congress that reentering the organization would "enable the United States to counter Chinese influence or advance other national interests of the United States."

At the same time, the new legislation stipulates that the “exception” will be canceled if the Palestinians obtain full member status in the United Nations, or any of the other United Nations agencies, after the enactment of the law, and the exception will expire on September 30, 2025, unless it is renewed by Congress. .

The Biden administration had pressured Congress to pass the proposal, arguing that it was essential for Washington to rival Beijing on the world stage.

Supporters celebrated Palestine's admission to UNESCO as a sovereign state when it happened, and the resolution received support from Washington's allies, including France, while the United States opposed it.

Palestine has been denied full membership in the United Nations mainly due to the objection of the United States, which has veto power in the United Nations Security Council, and since obtaining observer status in the United Nations in 2012, the Palestinian Authority has moved to join organizations such as UNESCO that The United States has no veto power over it, and has signed more than 100 international treaties and agreements as a member state.

In 2017, UNESCO declared the Old City of Hebron a protected heritage site in the city located in the heart of the occupied West Bank, which is home to more than 200,000 Palestinian citizens and a few hundred Jewish settlers who live under the protection of the Israeli occupation army.

UNESCO's decision to register the Tomb of the Patriarchs, known to Jews as the "Tomb of the Patriarchs", as a Palestinian heritage site angered Israel in particular, but was welcomed by the Palestinians.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs is believed to have been the burial site of many Old Testament figures, including the prophet Abraham, and was a flashpoint in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.