The United States is withdrawing from Unesco, after repeated criticism of resolutions by the UN cultural agency that Washington sees as anti-Israel.

"US taxpayers should no longer be on the hook to pay for policies that are hostile to our values and make a mockery of justice and common sense," said Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations.

"The purpose of Unesco is a good one. Unfortunately, its extreme politicization has become a chronic embarrassment."

She said that Unesco's desicion to designating the Old City of Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs as part of Palestinian territory was the final straw. "The Tomb of the Patriarchs decision was just the latest in a long line of foolish actions, which includes keeping Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on a Unesco human rights committee even after his murderous crackdown on peaceful protestors."

Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, informed the Paris-based cultural heritage agency of his decision on Thursday morning - the second time the US has pulled out of the group known for designating World Heritage sites such as the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria and the Grand Canyon National Park.

Ronald Reagan withdrew the US in 1984, in protest at a perceived Soviet bias, and George W. Bush rejoined in 2002.