RAMALLAH, July 8, 2025 (WAFA) – The Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry welcomed on Tuesday the unanimous adoption by the World Heritage Committee of four resolutions on Palestinian sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

During its forty-seventh session opened at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, referred to as the World Heritage Committee, decided to retain the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger and not to change the status of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town, initially inscribed on the list in 2017,

It also decided to retain both Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer, initially inscribed in 2024, as well as Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir, on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Ministry noted that the adoption of these four decisions marked the culmination of diplomatic efforts by Palestine’s delegation to UNESCO, in coordination with Jordan, the Arab Group, and friendly countries.

It emphasized the importance of adopting these decisions given then violations committed by Israel, the illegitimate occupying power, against world heritage and cultural properties, attempts to desecrate holy sites, and falsify Palestinian heritage, culture, and historical properties, and infringements upon the Palestinian people’s rights, especially those falling under the areas of UNESCO’s mandate, including in occupied Jerusalem.

It added that such among such Israeli violations were the violation of the rights to worship, movement, and education, incessant colonists’ intrusions into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and other violations of world heritage sites, including the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Battir.

K.F.