Washington weighs cutting funds to U.N. agencies after Palestinians join

"The United States is considering whether to cut funding to two UN agencies and the chemical weapons watchdog after the Palestinians joined the organizations, a US official said Wednesday.

In a move aimed at boosting their international profile, the Palestinians have joined the UN trade development organization UNCTAD, industrial development agency UNIDO and the Chemical Weapons Convention which is upheld by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

US legislation bars funding for UN agencies or affiliates that grant membership to Palestine, which has the status of a non-member observer state at the United Nations.

'It has been the consistent position of the United States that efforts by the Palestinians to join international organizations are premature and counterproductive,' a US official said.

'We will review the application of US legislative restrictions related to Palestinian membership in certain UN agencies and organizations,' the official added..."