Board of Deputies dismisses Emily Thornberry's claim Unesco has no 'anti-Israel bias'

“When the Trump administration announced its withdrawal from Unesco jointly with Netanyahu’s last year, it was explicit about the supposed 'anti-Israel bias' that had driven its decision, by which it meant Unesco’s temerity in accepting the overwhelming vote of its members in 2011 to admit the state of Palestine as a full member.”

But the Board, responding on Twitter, listed a series of Unesco's actions had “denied the Jewish link to Judaism’s holiest site; cancelled an exhibition on the Jewish presence in Israel; recognised the Tomb of the Patriarchs [in Hebron] as Palestinian, omitting the Jewish connection.”

According to the Times, Ms Mordaunt had argued that Unesco’s activities did not fit in with her department’s spending plans.

Her predecessor, Priti Patel, a staunch defender of Israel, had also proposed leaving Unesco while she was in office.

But a spokesman for the Government said there had been “no change to our commitment to Unesco”.