You’re about to see a viscous game, not that we hadn’t already. I’m not talking about the NFL, nor am I talking about the stock market. I’m talking about human existence; the United States is playing hardball. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has hit a wall. It’s been in a stalemate for some time. It won’t move anytime soon. But it’s not the victim’s fault.

You see, our country claims to be the most humane country in the “developed” world. Ironically, The U.S. didn’t waste any time cutting funding for UNESCO after it granted the Palestinians full membership. UNESCO is the United Nations’ agency devoted to promoting education, culture and science. In other words, bringing civility to other people. We’re talking $60 million in “humanitarian” aid. The U.S. contribution makes up 22% of the agency’s budget. This monetary withholding is the seed of oppression.

UNESCO understands humanity. Making peace with people you’re not particularly fond of means giving them respect, including them in the game. America wants the Palestinians to only play the game if they’re playing on the US’s terms: submit to Israeli insults, infringement and inhumane treatment. It appears the world is not going along with the U.S. strong arm any longer. The vote, which required two-thirds approval by UNESCO members, passed with 107 in favor, 14 against, and 52 abstentions. This was the first time a part of the world body voted in this manner - against American interests.

We all want peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but there are some of us who want that peace to be fair and equitable. The peace process is indeed give-and-take. The U.S. and Israel claim to want to engage in the peace process, but with them, it’s “my way or the highway.” That cannot be the foundation for building peace. This retaliatory withdrawal of funding is indicative of the deterioration of the goodwill with which President Barack Obama’s came into office. This act is counter-productive to the peace process. Peace negotiations need to be on even ground. Humanizing the Palestinian people is a step toward peace - or at least equitable negotiations.

The UNESCO vote is separate from the Palestinian bid for full membership in the United Nations. Representatives of several countries pointed out that currently the UN Security Council is debating Palestinians’ right to statehood, aka her right to self-determination. By the way, of the 15 UN Security Council members, its permanent members are China, France, Russia, the Great Britain and the US - and each has veto power. We already know two that will use its veto…like my grandmother used to say, they’re “thick as thieves.”

Currently the U.S. covers approximately one fifth of the UNESCO costs but by cutting that funding it will be even harder for the American agenda at UNESCO to be accomplished. America always has an agenda; don’t we all? That agenda is not just about protecting historical sites, or teaching Afghan women, children and even police officers to read, or about helping to continue the Tsunami early warning system. That agenda also protects Israel.

The UNESCO victory moves the Palestinians forward to solidify their promise to apply for membership to other UN agencies, like the International Atomic Energy Organization, which the US views as critical to curbing Iran’s nuclear program, or the World Heath Organization, where US money spends millions to fund vaccination programs around the world, primarily in Africa though…

A cut in funding to these UN agencies will mean more than a loss of U.S. influence and prestige. It has the potential to affect American national security in ways lawmakers probably didn’t envision in this post-9-11 world. Lawmakers 20 years ago, perhaps, viewed the legislation simplistically as a punitive measure.

Let us consider UNESCO an extension of the U.S. State Department. The U.S. collaborates with UNESCO and other nations to advance worldwide respect for justice, the rule of law (which the U.S. too often violates), and human rights. So many programs, because of a loss of funds, plus the tension created between the U.S. and Israel and supporters of Palestine’s membership, places developing nations at a disadvantage because of downsizing. After all, they’re the ones most in need of literacy programs, press freedoms, and infrastructures that support environmental conservation, etc. These robust efforts are needed to support developing nations as they build self-reliant, sustainable nation states - like Palestine is trying to do. The loss of what could total billions of U.S. dollars to UN agencies could reintroduce developing nations to the ugly reality of continued vulnerability, exploitation and oppression.

In the final analysis, President Obama must mount his bully pulpit to seek a waiver of these mandates from Congress to continue funding affected UN agencies. If he doesn’t, then I’ll pose this question to you: Was the U.S. aim at punishing the Palestinians successful? Is it worth potentially losing lives and lowering the quality of life for millions more, plus the instability and insecurity that oppression and poverty brings, including bringing to the U.S.? Should we be the sower of these seeds of oppression?

BlackCommentator.com Columnist, Perry Redd, is the former Executive Director of the workers rights advocacy, Sincere Seven, and author of the on-line commentary, “The Other Side of the Tracks.” He is the host of the internet-based talk radio show, Socially Speaking in Washington, DC. Click here to contact Mr. Redd.