Unesco has chosen a Jewish woman to be its next director-general just a day after the United States and Israel announced they were withdrawing from the international heritage organisation.

Audrey Azoulay, 45, a former French Minister of Culture in Francois Hollande’s government, was selected by Unesco’s executive board ahead of eight other candidates on Friday.

The previous day the US administration said it would quit the organisation at the end of next year because of its “continuing anti-Israel bias”.

Shortly after the US announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed its Foreign Ministry to follow suit and prepare Israeli withdrawal from Unesco.

The final straw for the US was Unesco’s decision in July to declare the Tomb of the Patriachs in Hebron an “endangered Palestinian heritage site”, ignoring its historic and religious significance for Jews.

Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said last week Unesco’s “extreme politicisation has become a chronic embarrassment. 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.

“Just as we said in 1984 when President Reagan withdrew from Unesco, 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.”

Meanwhile, Ms Azoulay’s appointment will have to be ratified next month by a full conference of Unesco members.

Her father is Andre Azoulay, who has served as an adviser to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI as well as to his predecessor.

Her previous roles include deputy director-general of the French National Centre of Cinematography.