US set to quit Unesco over ‘anti-Israel bias’ and 'woke agenda', says report

The Trump administration has announced the United States will leave Unesco, accusing the UN cultural agency of opposing Israel and promoting what it calls a “woke agenda”, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.

The move follows a 90-day White House review ordered earlier this year, focused on investigating alleged anti-Israel sentiment. Officials reportedly criticised Unesco’s work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as what they described as a bias in favour of Palestinians.

“President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from Unesco - which supports woke, divisive, cultural and social causes,” said White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly.

The administration objected to Unesco's recognition of heritage sites in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem as Palestinian. It also objected to Unesco's use of the word "occupied" to refer to Palestinian lands.