(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNESCO ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT KATALIN BOGYAY SAYING:<br/> "The General Conference has thus voted to adopt the draft resolution and decided to admit Palestine as member of UNESCO."<br/> UNESCO - the United Nations' cultural agency - votes 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.<br/> Palestinian delegation members leap to their feet.<br/> (Natural sound: Clapping)<br/> UNESCO is the first U.N. agency the Palestinians have joined as a full member since President Mahmoud Abbas applied for full membership of the United Nations in September.<br/> But the celebration at UNESCO headquarters in Paris is not universal.<br/> In addition to Israel, the United States, Canada, Germany and Holland voted against Palestinian membership.<br/> Washington will cut funding to UNESCO over the vote, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland announced on Monday.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN VICTORIA NULAND SAYING:<br/> "Palestinian membership as a state in UNESCO triggers long-standing legislative restrictions which will compel the United States to refrain from making contributions to UNESCO."<br/> The U.S. maintains its support for a Palestinian state, but says it can only be created through negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.<br/> Katharine Jackson, Reuters.
