Israel Severs Diplomatic Ties with UN Agencies, Mirroring US Withdrawal
Israel announced on Tuesday that it is cutting ties with several international organizations, including key United Nations agencies. This move comes just days after the United States withdrew from 66 global bodies, signaling a significant shift in diplomatic engagement.
Israel's Decision to Withdraw
In a post on social media platform X, Israel's Foreign Ministry revealed the decision. The ministry stated that it made this choice after conducting an examination and discussion following the recent US withdrawal from dozens of international organizations.
The Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has already severed ties with specific UN bodies. These include the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, UN Women, the UN Conference for Trade and Development, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Notably, the US recently withdrew from these same organizations.
Israel also announced an immediate withdrawal from three additional groups: the UN Alliance of Civilizations, UN Energy, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
Reasons Behind Israel's Withdrawal
Israel provided detailed justifications for each withdrawal, citing specific grievances.
Regarding the Office for Children in Armed Conflict, Israel said the organization shamelessly blacklisted the Israeli Defense Forces in 2024. This action placed the IDF alongside groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, according to Israeli officials.
For UN Women, Israel accused the agency of deliberately ignoring all cases of sexual violence committed against Israeli women. Tel Aviv cut ties with this organization in July 2024.
Israel described its relationship with UNCTAD and ESCWA as disengaged for years. It cited anti-Israel reports as the primary reason for the formal withdrawal.
Concerning the three organizations from which Israel withdrew after the US, Tel Aviv offered further explanations. It alleged that the UN Alliance of Civilizations had not invited Israel to participate and claimed the platform was used for years to launch attacks against Israel.
Israel called UN Energy a wasteful organization that reflects the excessive and inefficient bureaucracy of the UN. For the Global Forum on Migration and Development, Israel argued that the body erodes the ability of sovereign nations to enforce their own immigration laws.
Potential for Further Withdrawals
Israel's withdrawal from international bodies may not stop here. The country's foreign ministry is actively examining additional organizations for potential disengagement. This suggests that more announcements could follow in the coming weeks or months.
US Withdrawal from International Organizations
Israel's announcement comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump ordered America's withdrawal from 66 international organizations. In a memo dated January 8, Trump targeted several UN bodies and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, among others.
Trump justified this extensive retreat from global cooperation by alleging that the organizations ran contrary to the interests of the United States. He described this as the most significant pullback in modern history.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio elaborated on Trump's declaration. Rubio stated that President Trump made it clear that sending American resources to these institutions is no longer acceptable. He emphasized that the days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of the American people are over.
This coordinated withdrawal by both Israel and the US marks a notable realignment in international diplomacy, with both nations citing similar concerns about bias, inefficiency, and national interests.
