Jerusalem’s cultural heritage – UNESCO decision

DECISIONS ADOPTED

BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 194TH SESSION

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11 Jerusalem and the implementation of 37 C/Resolution 44 and 192 EX/Dec.11³ (194 EX/11; 194 EX/35)

The Executive Board,

1. Having considered document 194 EX/11 and the annex to this decision,

2. Recalling previous decisions concerning “Jerusalem”,

3. Decides to include this item on the agenda of the 195th session of the Executive Board and invites the Director-General to submit to it a follow-up report thereon.

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³ The Executive Board adopted this decision upon a recommendation made by consensus by the Programme and External Relations Commission (PX) 

PROGRAMME AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSION (PX)

Item 11 Jerusalem and the implementation of 37 C/Resolution 44 and 192 EX/Decision 11

The Executive Board,

1. Having examined document 194 EX/11,

2. Recalling resolutions and decisions of UNESCO on Jerusalem, as well as the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional Protocols, the 1907 Hague Regulations on Land Warfare, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its related Protocols and the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972),

3. Affirming that nothing in the present decision, which is aimed at the safeguarding of the distinctive character of East Jerusalem, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem,

4. Regrets the absence of progress in the implementation of previous UNESCO decisions concerning Jerusalem, particularly 185 EX/Decision 14, and reiterates its request to the Director-General to appoint, as soon as possible, a permanent and eminent expert(s) to be stationed in East Jerusalem to report on a regular basis about all the aspects covering all UNESCO fields of competence in the City of East Jerusalem;

5. Reaffirms the requirement to implement promptly and fully the above-mentioned decisions, and urges the Israeli authorities to facilitate their implementation, in conformity with the provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions;

6. Deplores the failure of Israel to cease its persistent excavations and works in East Jerusalem, and reiterates its request to the Israeli authorities to prohibit all such works, in conformity with the provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions;

7. Also deplores the continuous Israeli unilateral measures and practices, as well as the settlers’ incursions in East Jerusalem, which dangerously and irreversibly affect the city’s distinctive religious, cultural, historical and demographic character, and urges the Israeli authorities to take the necessary measures to end these abuses;

8. Thanks the Director-General for her efforts to implement previous UNESCO decisions on Jerusalem, and asks her to maintain and reinvigorate such efforts;

9. Decides to include this item in the agenda of the 195th session of the Executive Board and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.

(194 EX/SR.7)