Israel denies opposing Khattab’s nomination to UNESCO

CAIRO – 12 October 2017: The Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yuval Rotem, said that Israel’s opposition to the nomination of Moushira Khattab to UNESCO's chief post is not true.

According to Israel Broadcasting Corporation, Rotem told the Egyptian Ambassador in Israel, Hazem Khairat, that the quote attributed to Carmel Shama-Hacohen about Israeli opposition to the nomination of Khattab was not said by him, CNN reported.

“Israel has the commitment to develop mutual relations within the framework of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty; halting the politicization of UNESCO's adverse decisions toward Israel is what I care about,” Rotem said according to CNN.

Khattab's first message on Twitter in three months was a re-tweet of an article in the Israeli press entitled, "Israel bemoans emerging Qatari victory in UNESCO leadership vote."