Palestine: Palestinian official institutions hailed the unanimous adoption by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee of four decisions concerning the State of Palestine. The move came during the Committee's 48th session in the Republic of Korea, addressing the state of conservation of Palestinian World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
According to Qatar News Agency, the decisions cover the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, the Old Town of Hebron, Saint Hilarion Monastery (Tell Umm Amer) in the Gaza Strip, and Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines - Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir. These decisions maintain these properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger and reaffirm Jerusalem's outstanding religious and cultural significance.
The Committee reiterated the nullity of all legislative and administrative measures taken by the Israeli occupying authorities to alter the character or the legal and historical status of these World Heritage properties. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the move underscores the success of Palestinian diplomatic efforts undertaken in lockstep with Jordan, the Arab Group, and supporting countries.
The ministry affirmed that the decisions follow Israel's persistent, systematic, and grave violations, as the occupying Power, against Palestinian World Heritage properties and cultural heritage, including attempts at falsification, distortion, and desecration. The violations include undermining freedom of worship, freedom of access, and the right to education, alongside continued incursions by extremist settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The ministry warned of an escalating pattern of violations aimed at imposing a temporal and spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque, altering the historical, legal, and demographic status quo of East Jerusalem, and targeting Islamic and Christian holy sites. It underscored the importance of dispatching Reactive Monitoring missions to assess and provide recommendations to safeguard these World Heritage properties.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs welcomed the decisions as a legal and diplomatic milestone for the Palestinian cause, particularly as they maintain the Old City of Jerusalem and the Old Town of Hebron on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The ministry reiterated that all Israeli measures aimed at altering the historical and legal status of the holy sites are null and void.
Palestine's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Adel Attieh, cautioned against continued Israeli violations against Palestinian heritage sites, particularly in Jerusalem and Hebron. He urged UNESCO and its member states to implement the decisions to ensure the protection and preservation of Palestinian cultural heritage.
The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also welcomed the decisions, asserting the international community's commitment to protecting Palestinian cultural heritage. The ministry plans to work with UNESCO and others to follow up on the implementation of the decisions, document violations, and secure international support for safeguarding Palestinian World Heritage properties.
The Jerusalem Governorate welcomed the decision, stating it reaffirms the holy city's historical, cultural, and humanitarian significance, acknowledging the risks it faces due to Israeli occupation policies. It called for international action to protect Jerusalem and counter efforts to alter its identity and heritage.
President of the Palestinian National Council Rawhi Fattouh also welcomed the UNESCO decisions, emphasizing their reaffirmation of the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and Hebron. He noted that maintaining these sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger ensures international protection against occupation policies that seek to alter the cities' historical and cultural character.