The Israeli cabinet announced the freezing of its annual contributions to the UNESCO budget, the temporary suspension of the reimbursement of customs duties and VAT levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports and airports, as well as the escalation of colonization through the construction of 2000 additional housing units for Israelis in the Palestinian territories. "These measures have been agreed by the Forum of Eight senior ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as punishment after the vote at UNESCO," said an official.

On Monday, 31 October 2011, UNESCO recognized the Palestinian Authority as a full member of the organization by 107 votes in favor, 52 abstentions and 14 votes against.

While one can understand the Jewish state’s desire to withdraw from an organization whose policies it disapproves of, one is left wondering when it boasts about taking sanctions against 107 sovereign states that exercised their right to vote, by stealing money and land belonging to the Palestinians.