Paris, Oct 31 - The United Nations' cultural agency decided on Monday to give the Palestinians full membership of the body, a vote that will boost their bid for recognition as a state at the United Nations.
UNESCO is the first UN agency the Palestinians have sought to join as a full member since president Mahmoud Abbas applied for full membership of the United Nations on September 23.
The United States, Canada and Germany voted against Palestinian membership. Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and France voted in favour. Britain abstained.
Before the vote, the US said it would stop its funding to Unesco if the Palestinians' bid was accepted.
The UN Security Council will vote in November on whether Palestine should become a full UN member state, a BBC report said.
Membership of Unesco - perhaps best known for its World Heritage Sites - may seem a strange step towards statehood, but Palestinian leaders see it as part of a broader push to get international recognition and put pressure on Israel.
bdnews24.com
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