Israel on Thursday was outraged to learn that the U.N.’s heritage body was planning to adopt a resolution declaring the Har Habayis sacred to “Muslims only.”
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 21-member World Heritage Committee is set to vote on the resolution, a joint Palestinian-Jordanian initiative, during its annual meeting in Istanbul, which began on Sunday and runs through next week. The resolution calls for a return to the “historic status quo” on the Temple Mount, which it sees as favoring Muslims.
In June, UNESCO adopted a resolution deciding to refer to the holy Jerusalem site only by the name of the Muslim mosque on its grounds—Al-Aqsa—in all official documents. The current resolution is far more radical, and to Israel’s surprise, it has received the European Union’s blessing.
Political sources told Israel Hayom that Brussels’ decision to back the move most likely stems from the ongoing crisis between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the EU, which seems to be escalating into an actual rift.
“Israel is very concerned by the EU intent to propose a resolution negating the Jewish people’s link to the Temple Mount. This would be an alternative proposal to the Palestinian draft currently being discussed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee during its meeting in Istanbul,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The EU’s proposal continues to deny the Jewish people’s historic ties to Temple Mount, despite France’s apology in April, admitting it was wrong to support UNESCO’s decision to address the Temple Mount only as Al-Aqsa mosque.”
JNS.ORG
{Matzav.com}
UNESCO has:
– No shame
– No honesty
– No decency
I want to know exactly who in the “EU” was responsible for this decision. The leaders of the four largest EU members are not hostile to Israel.
I would think Israels response should be to annex the west bank. Of course the world won’t except that. But it would be our way of showing the world if they can make silly statements that have no basis in fact. we can also make statements that are indeed based on facts.
Moshiach not Unesco will reestablish the correct status quo, methinks.