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

The UN cultural agency’s chief said she is alarmed by developments in Syria, where clashes with IS militants are getting closer to the ancient city of Palmyra — one of the Middle East’s most famous Unesco world heritage sites.

UNESCO appeals to global community to protect heritage

A Bulgarian diplomat became the first woman to lead the UN’s agency for culture and education, beating a controversial Egyptian candidate whose one-time threat to burn Israeli books had galvanised opposition.