Audrey Azoulay delivers a speech to the press after being elected Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the organisation's headquarter in Paris, France, Oct 13. (EPA-EFE photo)PARIS: UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay says she has received Israel's official letter announcing its exit from the UN cultural body. Israel previously said it intended to leave the Paris-based agency, citing "systematic attacks on the Jewish state.'' Azoulay said in a statement on Friday she deeply regretted the withdrawal, which is set to take effect on Dec 31, 2018. Many Israeli's viewed recent resolutions by the organisation as diminishing Jewish ties to Jerusalem and the biblical city of Hebron.

Source: Bangkok Post December 30, 2017 15:00 UTC