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Kerfuffle over UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem

TJI Pick
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Arch of Titus depicts Roman spoils from the Second Temple in Jerusalem

Published: 15 October 2016

Last updated: 4 March 2024

A resolution by UNESCO on ’Occupied Palestine’ passed the committee stage last week by (only) 24 votes to 6, with 26 abstentions. It was scheduled to be approved this coming week by UNESCO’s Executive Board but that vote will likely now be deferred. To assist in assessing the accuracy and reasonableness, or otherwise, of the vast range of ensuing comments and reports across all media (only a few could be linked to below), you may like to read the full text here. Bear in mind also that UNESCO has already accorded World Heritage status to Jerusalem as connected to all three monotheistic religions and to several other sites (Masada, Megiddo, Hatzor, Beersheba, Beit Shearim) as connected with and evidencing the history of the Jewish people in their ancient kingdoms of Judah and Israel.

The city plays hide-and-seek among her names:
Yerushalayim, Al-Quds, Salem, Jeru, Yeru, all the while
Whispering her first Jebusite name: Y’vus,
Y’vus, Y’vus, in the dark. She weeps with longing: Ælia Capitolina, Ælia, Ælia.
She comes to any man who calls her
At night, alone. But we know
Who comes to whom.
(From ‘Jerusalem 1967’ in The Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai, Univ. of California Press)

And see:

Top UNESCO official tells Israeli TV he’s ‘sorry’ about Jerusalem resolution – The Times of Israel 14.10.16
Michael Worbs hopes final vote on text that negates Jewish ties to city will be delayed to give dialogue a chance, says previous recognition of Old City as Heritage Site for the 3 monotheistic faiths trumps ‘recent debate’. The UNESCO director-general had earlier signalled her dismay and opposition to the resolution, saying: ‘The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city. To deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.’

Outrageous as it may be, UNESCO's Jerusalem vote has a silver lining
– Ralph Ahren - The Times of Israel 14.10.16

Let’s talk about what UNESCO resolution does say instead of what it doesn’t
– Tom Pessah – +972 Magazine 14.10.16
The absence of an affirmation of Judaism’s connection to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif is being exploited to distract from Israeli violations of the status quo, and restrictions on Muslim-Palestinian access to the holy site.

Were there Jewish Temples on Temple Mount?
October 24, 2016

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