RAMALLAH, December, 4, 2024 (WAFA) – The 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held in the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, from December 2 to 7, 2024, adopted the decision to include the Nablus soap making tradition in Palestine on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed, in a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the adoption of the decision by UNESCO, and stressed its importance in preserving the Palestinian intangible cultural heritage at the international level, which enhances recognition of Palestinian culture and its traditional crafts rooted as part of human history, and preserving them from extinction and from Israeli attempts to erase the cultural identity of the Palestinian people and falsify history and the Palestinian narrative.
The Ministry thanked the member states that expressed their full support for the State of Palestine, in light of the Israeli colonial occupation.
The committee also included the art of henna drawing and its associated traditions as a common Arab element presented by several Arab countries.
It also expressed its appreciation for the tireless work and efforts made by all national and international parties through our mission to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, in order to prepare the nomination file to adopt this decision and meet the criteria for registration on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Nabulsi soap is considered one of the most prominent cultural and historical symbols of Palestine, as its tradition dates back hundreds of years, and represents part of the Palestinian cultural identity, not just a craft. The city of Nablus is famous for this soap, which is distinguished by its natural ingredients, the most important of which is olive oil, and the traditional method of manufacturing that has been passed down through generations.
The Ministry stressed that the tangible and intangible Palestinian cultural heritage is a testament to the authenticity and depth of the Palestinian people's connection to their land and heritage since ancient times.
It further called on all countries and international actors to protect the Palestinian people, heritage, culture and history from the ongoing attempts of genocide by Israel, the illegal occupation authority, and to work to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their cultural rights.
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