Implementation of 192 EX/Decision 12 on the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb – UNESCO document

Item 12 of the provisional agenda

IMPLEMENTATION OF 192 EX/DECISION 12 ON

“THE TWO PALESTINIAN SITES OF AL-ḤARAM AL IBRĀHĪMĪ/TOMB

OF THE PATRIARCHS IN AL-KHALĪL /HEBRON AND

THE BILĀL IBN RABĀḤ MOSQUE/RACHEL’S TOMB IN BETHLEHEM”

1. At the 184th session of the Executive Board, item 37 concerning “The two Palestinian sites of al-Haram al Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs in al-Khalil/Hebron and the Bilal ibn Raba. Mosque/Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem” was included in the agenda at the request of a number of Member States, in relation to the decision of the Israeli authorities, announced in February 2010, to include the two above-mentioned sites located in Hebron and Bethlehem in Israel’s National Heritage Programme.

2. The Executive Board adopted 184 EX/Decision 37 postponing the examination of this item until its 185th session, at which no consensus could be reached, despite considerable efforts, and 185 EX/Decision 15 was adopted following a roll-call vote. At its 186th, 187th, 189th and 190th sessions, the Executive Board adopted similar decisions by roll-call vote, recalling its previous decisions.

3. At its 191st session, the Executive Board adopted 191 EX/Decision 10 by which it acknowledged “the Director-General’s good offices mission leading to an understanding between all parties concerned and to the implementation of World Heritage Committee decision 34 COM 7A.20 (adopted by consensus in 2012, Brasilia) as reflected in the letter dated 23 April 2013 from the Permanent Delegate of Israel addressed to the Director-General” and invited the Director-General to submit to it a follow-up report thereon.

4. At its 192nd session, the Executive Board adopted 192 EX/Decision 12 by which it expressed “its deep concern over the ongoing Israeli construction of private roads for settlers and a separation wall inside the Old City of Hebron, which dangerously and irreversibly affect the city’s distinctive religious, cultural, historical, and demographic character”, and urged “the Israeli authorities to end these violations, in compliance with provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions”.

5. No information has reached the Secretariat on this matter to date.