Israel's ambassador to UNESCO warned that those who backed Monday's successful bid by the Palestinians to be admitted to the UN body would lose influence over Israel.

Asked about countries such as France that had voted for the resolution, ambassador Nimrod Barkan told AFP: "It certainly will weaken their ability to have any influence on the Israeli position."

The UNESCO general assembly adopted a resolution to admit Palestine as a member by a vote of 107 for, 14 against and 52 abstentions.

Barkan slammed countries that "have adapted a science fiction version of reality by admitting a non-existent state to the science organisation. ... UNESCO should deal in science, not science fiction."

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