Benjamin Netanyahu 'backed out of UNESCO antisemitism event to avoid angering America'

But on Saturday, Channel 10 reported he had refused the invitation last week because he did not want to anger the United States, which has taken a hardline against UNESCO under the Trump administration and announced last October it quit the body.

Mr Netanyahu issued a statement condemning UNESCO and reaffirming Israel's decision to leave the body.

He said: "While I commend all efforts to combat antisemitism, I have decided not to participate in this week’s UNESCO conference on antisemitism due to the organisation’s persistent and egregious bias against Israel.

"“Since 2009, UNESCO has passed 71 resolutions condemning Israel and only two resolutions condemning all other countries combined... This is simply outrageous.”

But Western diplomats told Channel 10: "Netanyahu’s statement was fake news. He simply ignored all the positive changes toward Israel that took place over the past year at UNESCO.

"It’s sad and upsetting that this is the behavior of the prime minister of Israel."