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

DECISIONS ADOPTED

BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 194TH SESSION

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12 Implementation of 192 EX/Dec.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”⁴ (194 EX/12; 194 EX/35)

The Executive Board,

1. Having considered document 194 EX/12 and the annex to this decision,

2. Recalling previous decisions concerning “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”,

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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⁴The 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)

12 Implementation of 192 EX/Dec.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”

The Executive Board,

1. Having examined document 194 EX/12,

2. Recalling UNESCO decisions on the two Palestinian sites in al-Khalīl/Hebron and in Bethlehem, as well as the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions (1949) and their Additional Protocols (1977), 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); also recalling the Convention on the 194Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970),

3. Reaffirming that the two concerned sites located in al-Khalīl/Hebron and in Bethlehem are an integral part of Palestine,

4. Affirming that nothing in the present decision, which is aimed at the safeguarding of the Palestinian cultural heritage, shall in any way affect the relevant Security Council and United Nations resolutions and decisions on the legal status of Palestine,

5. Expresses 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 urges the Israeli authorities to end these violations, in compliance with provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions;

6. Regrets the denial of freedom of movement and freedom of access to places of worship due to the above-mentioned Israeli violations and restrictions;

7. Also regrets the Israeli authorities’ refusal to comply with 185 EX/Decision15 concerning this item, and urges them to act in accordance with that decision;

8. 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 follow-up report thereon.

(194 EX/SR.7)