UNESCO: The USA May Object, But there is World Class Heritage in Palestine

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The UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizes cultural and natural heritage sites with “outstanding universal value”. Palestine is home to some of the most historic and sensitive sites on the planet in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Until today, Palestine was not formally eligible to submit any properties for nomination to the World Heritage List. It however has now submitted a tentative list with the names of 20 sites to the World Heritage Committee. The list includes historic sites like Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the Old City of Hebron, the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Umayyad Palaces like Khirbat al Mafjar.

A few months ago a vote by UNESCO members granted full membership to Palestine. In retaliation, the US immediately withdrew its support for the organization — about 22 percent of the group’s annual budget.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova launched a multi-donor Emergency Fund, which has so far received close to $30 million in contributions from Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Indonesia, East Timor, Iceland, Turkey, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Belize and others.

Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and all the rest are not exactly the best situated countries in the world, yet they shame America by their willingness to put their share of the global responsibility for Education, Science and Culture above partisan interests and their own immediate needs, where America does not.

'Palestine to Submit 20 Sites for UNESCO World Heritage Site Nomination', Heritage on the Wire March 08, 2012.