Israel has announced an immediate halt to engagement with seven United Nations agencies and international forums, marking a sharp escalation in its diplomatic posture following Washington’s decision to withdraw from dozens of multilateral bodies.
In a statement released on Monday, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision came after an internal review prompted by recent moves in the United States. Israeli officials said the affected organizations have demonstrated positions they view as hostile toward Israel.
According to the ministry, Israel had already suspended cooperation with four bodies included on the U.S. withdrawal list, among them UN Women and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. The new step expands the cutoff to include the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, the United Nations Energy Mechanism, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
Israeli officials described the organizations as “anti-Israel” and said the policy shift reflects a reassessment of how the country engages with multilateral institutions. The ministry added that additional international bodies are under review and that further decisions could follow.
The move comes days after the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump had signed a presidential memorandum on January 7 directing the United States to exit 66 international organizations deemed no longer aligned with U.S. interests. The list reportedly includes 31 entities affiliated with the United Nations.
Together, the actions by Washington and Jerusalem underscore growing skepticism among some governments toward multilateral frameworks, signaling potential shifts in how international cooperation is pursued in the months ahead.
