Implementation of UNESCO decision 10 on Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of Patriarchs and Bilal Ibn Raball Mosque/Rachel’s Tomb – UNESCO document

1. At the 184th session of the Executive Board, item 37 concerning “The two Palestinian sites of al-Haram al-lbrāhīmī/Tomb of the Patriarchs in al-Khalil/Hebron and the Bilal ibn Rabah 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. At its 194th session, the Executive Board decided to include this item in the agenda of its 195th session, and invited the Director-General to submit to it a follow-up report thereon.

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

7. Should additional information become available to the Secretariat, the Director-General is prepared to publish an addendum to this document before the 195th session of the Executive Board in order to inform the Members of the Executive Board of any new developments in that regard.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002291/229194e.pdf