Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 07-07-2017
UNESCO has granted a Palestinian request to declare the old city of Hebron in Israel a Palestinian World Heritage site.
The move has been met with applause by Palestinians and condemnation by Israel.
Palestinians say the decision is a success for Palestinian diplomacy and applauded the decision by the world to recognise their right to register Hebron under Palestinian sovereignty.
Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the world dating back more than three thousand years BC.
The old city is home to more than 200,000 Palestinians and a few hundred Israeli settlers, who live in a heavily fortified enclave near the site known to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque and to Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
It is also home to Quranic figures like Ebrahim (AS) Ishaq (AS) and Yacoob (AS) and is one of the most important religious sites to Muslims and Jews alike.
Israel’s efforts to foil the resolution failed after twelve member states voted in favour of the resolution.
Hebron has also been put on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in danger.
The resolution was fast-racked on the basis that the site was under threat with the Palestinians accusing Israel of an alarming number of violations including vandalism and damage to properties.
Israel says the decision is nothing short of disgraceful.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his anger and dissatisfaction about UNESCO’s decision on social media
“This is another delusional UNESCO decision.”
– Agencies
Following the UNESCO resolution on the Tomb of the Patriarchs, PM Netanyahu decided to cut $1 million from Israel’s UN membership funds
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 7, 2017
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