PrintNovember 14, 2010
Israel and UNESCO
It has become quite a routine. For more than thirty years, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)'s Executive Board has adopted, by consensus during each of its two biannual governing body meetings, biased decisions singling out the State of Israel for criticism. Several Arab or Muslim countries have regularly presented draft decisions that deal with safeguarding the Old City of Jerusalem and education and cultural institutions in the Arab-occupied territories. While the themes were within UNESCO's mandate for protection of cultural heritage, the singling out of Israel for criticism is not.In April 2010, five items were introduced by those states on the agenda at the 184th session of UNESCO's Executive Board. Two items covered Jerusalem's Ascent to the Mughrabi Gate and the city's cultural heritage. Two others expressed their "concern about the harmful impact of the Separation Wall" on the "activities of [Palestinian] cultural and...(Read Full Article)
