The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unanimously adopted a draft resolution on the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, confirming the previous decisions of the committee, and keeping the status of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in addition to the Hebron and Battir resolutions.
This came during the forty-fifth session of UNESCO, held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine welcomed the decisions of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at its forty-fifth session, and its adoption of decisions regarding the preservation of world heritage of exceptional value in Palestine, unanimously and without a vote.
It thanked the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its efforts in submitting the Jerusalem Resolution, and working to maintain consensus in the resolution to keep the Holy City, the capital of the State of Palestine, on the World Heritage List, which is in danger, in addition to the special annex to the resolution that talks about Israeli violations of the provisions of UNESCO conventions, and the impact of the measures. Israeli practices on heritage sites, and its attempts to falsify history, culture, and education.
She stressed that attempts by Israel, the occupying power, to falsify history and culture will fail, and that Palestinian diplomacy will thwart all their attempts to destroy our heritage, culture and history, and all attempts to replace facts on the ground with myths and outdated narratives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of the city of Jerusalem and preserving it from distortion or destruction, as it is the true beacon of religions and the historical, heritage and civilizational gateway to the world, with its Muslims and Christians.
She stressed the need to implement UNESCO resolutions, including sending a permanent representative to occupied Jerusalem, to monitor the violations and Judaizing and destructive measures carried out by Israel, the occupying power, through which it seeks to obliterate its historical, cultural and religious landmarks or change the status quo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the member states of the World Heritage Committee for their consensus to keep the city of Hebron on the list of World Heritage in Danger, especially in the face of the threat of the occupation that is trying to destroy heritage sites, the Noble Mosque of the Patriarchs, and the Old City, in addition to the practices and crimes of settlers.
UNESCO and its Director-General called for exposing the colonial plans of the Israeli occupation, and not encouraging the illusions run by the current Israeli fascist government about undermining the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to exist.
It also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary steps to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against Palestinian heritage, culture and history and the Israelization of education in Jerusalem and other cities of the occupied State of Palestine, as the occupation fears history and culture, and fears heritage and education.
United Nations organizations, especially UNESCO, called for protecting the heritage, culture and history of Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine, and the cultural heritage in Hebron and Battir from distorting the cultural face.
In the same context, the Jordanian government appreciated the unanimous adoption by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of a draft resolution on the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, which confirms the committee’s previous decisions.
The official spokesman for the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sinan Al-Majali, said that the adoption of the resolution came as a result of Jordanian diplomatic efforts in coordination between Jordan, the State of Palestine, and the Arab and Islamic groups in the organization.
He explained that the resolution and its annexes confirm all aspects of the Jordanian position towards the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, including Islamic and Christian holy places, and that it reaffirmed that all Israeli measures aimed at changing the character of the Holy City and its legal status are null and void. The resolution and its annexes also call on Israel to stop its violations and illegal measures. Legal issues in the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls.
