Israel rejects UNESCO Executive Board decision on Occupied Palestine 21 October 2015
Israeli Missions Around The World MFA Press Room 2015 Israel rejects UNESCO Executive Board decision on Occupied Palestine 21 October 2015

Israel rejects UNESCO Executive Board decision on 'Occupied Palestine'

  • 10/21/2015
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    The deep Jewish ties to the holy sites in Jerusalem and its surroundings are undeniable and no decision of UNESCO can alter that. The resolution aims to transform the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a religious confrontation and is a disgrace.
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    UNESCO Executive Board discusses 'Occupied Palestine' UNESCO Executive Board discusses 'Occupied Palestine' Copyright: UNESCO / Cyril Bailleul
     
     
    ​(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

    Israel totally rejects the shameful resolution on 'Occupied Palestine' adopted today at the plenary of the 197th Session of UNESCO's Executive Board. The resolution aims to transform the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a religious confrontation and its adoption is a disgrace for UNESCO's Executive Board.  The Executive Board has joined the pyromaniacs seeking to set fire to the most sensitive sites to humankind.
    The decision is an abuse of UNESCO's mandate. UNESCO's Director-General Mrs. Irina Bokova yesterday expressed her strong opposition to the resolution, which constitutes "taking the protection of cultural heritage hostage" and "undermining UNESCO's mandate and efforts". The DG:  "deplores the proposals…appeals to the UNESCO Executive Board to take decisions that do not further inflame tensions on the ground and that encourage respect for the sanctity of the Holy Sites".
    Instead of striving to reduce tensions, the authors of the resolution are working to fuel the flames in the region, using irresponsible religious rhetoric and distorting history.
    This decision is yet another step in the continuous Palestinian endeavor to rewrite history and distort the sources of World Heritage in this part of the World. The Palestinian leadership's attempt to claim for themselves Jewish and Christian holy sites doesn't bode well; suffice to look at the torching of Joseph's Tomb by Palestinians just a few days ago. The deep Jewish ties to the holy sites in Jerusalem and its surroundings are undeniable and no decision of UNESCO can alter that.