Arab League Condemns US Decision to Freeze Funding to UNESCO

The Arab League Thursday expressed astonishment at the US decision to freeze its financial contributions to UNESCO after it voted to admit Palestine as its full member, according to a statement by the Arab League Council.  Such US move gives a negative indicator for the possibility of the success of efforts exerted to revive the negotiations and achieve peace in the region, the statement quoted by Palestine's news agency said.  It condemned the Israeli authorities  exceedingly negative position, in which Israel was quick to  punish the Palestinian people through its decision to freeze taxes and customs revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA), the construction of 2000 housing units in West Bank settlements, and its ongoing threats to attack Gaza.