Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 22 /Trend, E.Ostapenko/
The 185th session of UNESCO's Executive Board has adopted five decisions concerning UNESCO's work in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including on Jerusalem's cultural heritage, organization's statement says.
Two-week session ended on Thursday. 34 delegations supported the document. One state opposed and 19 abstained.
One of the decisions reaffirms the religious significance of the Old City of Jerusalem for Muslims, Christians and Jews. It invites the Director-General to appoint experts to be stationed in East Jerusalem to report on all aspects covering the architectural, educational, cultural and demographical situation there.
One of the decisions urges to reconstruct and develop the Gaza Strip. The decision "deplores" the continuous blockade on the Gaza Strip, which harmfully affects the free and sustained movement of personnel and humanitarian relief items".
The decision "Ascent to the Mughrabi Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem" reaffirms the necessity of Israel's cooperation in order to arrange access to the Mughrabi Ascent site for Jordanian and Waqf experts and that no measures should be taken which will affect the authenticity and integrity of the site, in accordance with the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the Hague Convention for the protection of Cultural property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Another decision was dedicated to educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories. One more decision deals with the Palestinian sites of al-Haram al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs in al-Khalil/Hebron and the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem: It reaffirms that the two sites are an integral part of the occupied Palestinian Territories and that any unilateral action by the Israeli authorities is to be considered a violation of international law, the UNESCO Conventions and the United Nations and Security Council resolutions.