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UNESCO Director admits Temple Mount resolution was ‘unacceptable’
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova admitted that last week’s resolution about the holy sites in Jerusalem was ‘unacceptable’ to her, according to a report in Yediot Ahronot.
Writing to Yair Lapid MK, leader of the Yesh Atid party, Ms Bokova distanced herself and the secretariat of UNESCO from the decision taken by the countries on the UNESCO executive and council. She wrote:
“I issued a statement on April 17, immediately following the meeting, recalling that Jerusalem is a Holy Land to the three monotheistic religions and a place of dialogue for all Jewish, Christian and Muslim people. I also underscored that member states of UNESCO have a responsibility to search for ways to promote dialogue and peace.
As I have said several times in the past, this organization should not be politicized. As the director general of UNESCO, I have taken a firm stand with regard to situations that may further inflame incendiary events in the Middle East and in the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”
Mr Lapid wrote to Ms Bokova earlier in the week to object to the one-sided UNESCO resolution which erased or undermined any Jewish or Christian connection to Jerusalem’s holy sites, including the Western Wall. The resolution contained a number of bizarre claims including an accusation that Israel is planting fake Jewish graves in Muslim cemeteries. The resolution was also condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Lapid had claimed that that the UNESCO resolution’s false claims of Israeli activity on the Temple Mount could provoke violence. Statements from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah following Monday’s bus bombing all claimed that the attack was a “natural result” of alleged Israeli actions on al-Aqsa.
The investigation into Monday’s bombing continues, although some aspects are subject to reporting bans. At present, the Israeli authorities’ prime suspect is a seriously-wounded man who lost his limbs in the attack. He had no identification, has not been reported missing and has had no visitors. Police believe he is most likely to be the bomber.