Story highlights UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova calls the move a "loss to the United Nations family"

UNESCO currently has 195 members and eight associate members

Washington (CNN) The US is withdrawing from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, the US State Department announced on Thursday, citing anti-Israel bias and mounting membership dues owed to the international body.

The "Department of State notified UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova of the US decision to withdraw from the organization and to seek to establish a permanent observer mission to UNESCO," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

"This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO," she added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is also planning to withdraw from the body, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office.

In the statement, Netanyahu hailed the US move as a "courageous and moral decision." He said UNESCO had "turned into a theatre of the absurd; instead of preserving history, it twists it."

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