Audrey Azoulay Becomes First Jewish Head Of UNESCO As US & Israel Withdraw Support

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Audrey Azoulay Becomes First Jewish Head Of UNESCO As US & Israel Withdraw Support

France's former culture minister Audrey Azoulay narrowly beat Qatar's frontrunner Hamad bin Abdoulaziz Al-Kawari to become UNESCO's first-ever Jewish director general. Her election came a day after the United States and Israel pulled out of the UN culture and education body, alleging anti-Israel bias. Azoulay grew up in Morocco and has family in Israel, writes The Israel Times. 

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley drew a hard line in announcing the US withdrawal from UNESCO on Thursday: “Its extreme politicization has become a chronic embarrassment,” she said, citing a “long line of foolish actions” including designating the Israeli-occupied ancient city of Hebron as a Palestinian world heritage site. Haley also criticized the organization for keeping Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on a UNESCO human rights committee.

UNESCO's Director Irina Bokova Says 'No' to Burqas

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Irina Bokova will be installed as UNESCO’s new director today, as the first woman director.

Bulgaria’s Bokova lost no time outlining her positions on women’s issues, telling Radio Netherlands worldwide that she wants to encourage dialogue among Jews, Muslims and Christians in an effort to increase tolerance and respect.

Next she aligned herself with last week’s announcement by Eyptian Grand Imam Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi, saying: “Personally I’m against the burqa. Some women can’t even see properly. It denigrates women, causes problems and gives women the feeling that they are not equal to men.”

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