Israel Fumes over Recognition of Palestinian Site as World Heritage
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Israeli regime’s foreign ministry lashed out the United Nations for its "politicized" decision to recognize a prehistoric site in the West Bank as part of the world's cultural heritage.
The site in question, Tell es-Sultan, located outside of Jericho, was nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the Palestinian Authority. The decision to accept it was made during a meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
Tell es-Sultan is an oval-shaped mound with archaeological evidence of human settlement dating back to the Neolithic era. This nomination was separate from the city of Jericho, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and a significant tourist attraction, RT reported.
Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO's assistant director general, emphasized the distinction during the meeting, stating, "Later historical developments, which span over millennia and are demonstrated by material remains beyond the boundaries of Tell es-Sultan, constitute a rich cultural context, worthy of historical interest and preservation, covering among others, Jewish and Christian heritage. However, this is not the focus of the proposed nomination."
The Israeli foreign ministry condemned the decision, labeling it "another sign of the Palestinians' cynical use of UNESCO and the politicization of the organization." The ministry also expressed its intent to challenge what it views as "distorted decisions."
The West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem al-Quds, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Palestine has been a member state of UNESCO since 2011, and the organization has previously recognized three other world heritage sites in Palestine. These include the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route in Bethlehem, the terraced farming system near Battir, and the old town of Hebron. The newly accepted site is listed as "Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan." Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, citing alleged pro-Palestinian bias within the organization.
During the conference in Saudi Arabia, several new locations were added to the list of over 1,100 world heritage sites, including three Jewish buildings in the medieval historic center of Erfurt, Germany.
