Afrasianet - The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at its forty-first session, currently in Krakow, Poland, adopted the resolution "The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" prepared by Jordan and Palestine, submitted by the Arab Group.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the adoption of the resolution, which was supported by 10 countries and opposed 3, was made despite the enormous pressure exerted by Israel on Member States and UNESCO to thwart the decision, which confirmed the adoption of 12 previous resolutions of UNESCO Executive Board and 7 previous resolutions Of the World Heritage Committee, all of which stipulate that the definition of the historical situation in Jerusalem is the same as that of the Holy City before the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967.
The most important items reaffirmed by the resolution:
1- The illegality of any change caused by the Israeli occupation in the Old City of Jerusalem and its environs after the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, especially the invalidity of violations and the legal texts that were based on the so-called "Basic Law" approved by the Israeli Knesset to "Unify Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel" The actions are null and void, and Israel is called upon to rescind them and is obliged to withdraw them according to Security Council and UN resolutions, especially Security Council resolution 2334 (2016).
2. Strongly condemn and demand that the occupation authorities cease immediately all illegal excavations as flagrant interventions against the heritage of Jerusalem and the Holy Places.
3 - Strong condemnation of the intrusions of extremists and occupation forces and desecration of the holiness of Al Aqsa Mosque / Haram al-Sharif as a place of worship for Muslims only, and that the administration of the right of Islamic endowments in Jordan as defined by the historical situation existing since the occupation of 1967.
4- Demanding the occupation authorities to facilitate the implementation of the Hashemite reconstruction projects in the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Haram al-Sharif, with an emphasis on stopping the intervention in the building of Bab al-Rahma, as an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
5. To demand that Israel unconditionally allow the arrival of the concerned authority, Jordan Endowments, in order to preserve the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls from inside and outside, including the right of access and restoration of the Mugrabi Gate, which is an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
6 - Strong condemnation and the demand of the occupation authorities to stop all Judaization projects such as Beit Haliba and Beit Strauss, elevators, electric cable and light train that runs along the wall of Jerusalem, and remove the effects of destruction caused by these projects.
7. Request the occupation authorities to return the stolen objects and to provide the UNESCO World Heritage Center with clear documentation of the removal or falsification of its history in the Old City of Jerusalem and its surroundings.
8. Strong condemnation of Israel's continued denial of the monitoring mission and the appointment of a permanent representative of UNESCO in East Jerusalem to write periodic reports on the status of the preservation of the heritage and walls of the city of Jerusalem and the violations committed by the occupation authorities in this regard.
9. Invites the Director General of UNESCO and the World Heritage Center to make all possible efforts and means to implement the UNESCO resolutions and recommendations relating to Jerusalem.
10. Preserving the "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" on the World Heritage List at risk as a site registered by Jordan in 1981.