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Israel concerned over EU revision to UNESCO Jerusalem proposal
Israeli officials have expressed deep concern over attempts by European diplomats to find a compromise text to a joint Palestinian-Jordanian motion at United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which questions any Jewish connection to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.
Although the Temple Mount is holy to both Jews and Muslims, the resolution refers to it exclusively by the Arabic term Al-Haram Al-Sharif. The Western Wall, the world’s most significant Jewish prayer site is also referred to by the Arabic term Buraq Plaza, while quotation marks pointedly accompany the words “Western Wall plaza.” In addition, the motion alleges Israeli aggression and violation of rights at the Temple Mount.
UNESCO’s 21-member World Heritage Committee is meeting in Istanbul for its 40th annual session, and European Union (EU) countries have apparently revised a softened text. Although it has not yet been released by the EU for publication, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday that it still “nullifies the bond and relationship of the Jewish people to the Temple Mount”.
The statement added:“The EU proposal still denies the connection of the Jewish people to the Temple Mount.”
A vote on the resolution can take place any time until Tuesday. Emmanuel Nachson, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: “We’re not optimistic.”
Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama Hacohen said: “The European consensus for severing the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount reaches a new record of hypocrisy.”
He told YNet that the Palestinian delegate at UNESCO had explained that if the Palestinians were to recognise the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas would become the number one target for ISIS.
“The historical connection of the Jewish people to the Temple Mount is not subject to the wishes and threats of ISIS,” said Hacohen.
Last October, a UNESCO motion was carried accusing Israel of “aggression” at the Temple Mount. In April, another like-minded resolution was adopted by UNESCO’s executive board.