Following the uproar caused by the Palestinian New UNSECO membership, an official has warned the outcome of the vote will "open the door" to 16 other UN agencies, a move which could further anger the U.S. and Israel.

Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian envoy at the UN in Geneva, told The Associated Press that Palestinian diplomats are preparing papers to join 16 other UN agencies and added that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) vote sets a "precedent" to allowing such broad memberships.

Khraishi's claims came as Washington cut off funding to UNESCO after a vote on Monday to accept the Palestinian Authority as a member.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called UNESCO's decision "premature" and added it undermines the international community's efforts to produce a comprehensive Middle East peace plan.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland then announced at a briefing Monday the administration would not make its $60 million payment in November to the agency.

The Obama administration had warned it would cut its aids, which represent 22 per cent of UNESCO's budget, should Palestine be given full membership, but the move did not prevent the organisation's members from welcoming Palestine as a member.

The 193 member nations voted to approve the Palestinian Authority's membership by a vote of 107 to 14, with 52 abstentions, including Britain and Japan.

Countries that supported the move included France China, India, and nearly all the Arab, African, Asian and Latin American nations.

Israel, the U.S., Canada and Germany on the other hand voted against. Britain abstained, as did Japan.

The membership is also set to anger Israel, as the Netanyahu administration has warned it would only hamper efforts to return to negotiation.

"Unfortunately, the Palestinians continue to refuse to negotiate with us. Instead of sitting around the negotiating table, they have decided to form an alliance with Hamas and take unilateral steps at the U.N., including today," Netanyahu said on Monday before warning that his government would "not sit quietly."

Monday's vote was warmly received by the Palestinians and supporters of Palestine as a grand symbolic victory.

UNESCO or even UN membership alone will however not resolve the issues that have thwarted Middle East peace efforts for decades.

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