UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF
THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Fortieth session
Istanbul, Turkey
10-20 July 2016
Item 7A of the Provisional Agenda: State of conservation of the properties
inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
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SUMMARY In accordance with Section IV B, paragraphs 190-191 of the Operational Guidelines, the Committee shall review annually the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This review shall include such monitoring procedures and expert missions as might be determined necessary by the Committee. This document contains information on the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The World Heritage Committee is requested to review the report on the state of conservation of the property contained in this document. The full reports of Reactive Monitoring missions requested by the World Heritage Committee are available at the following Web address in their original language: All state of conservation reports are also available through the World Heritage State of conservation Information System at the following Web address: http://whc.unesco.org/en/soc
Decision required: The Committee is requested to review the state of conservation reports. The Committee may wish to adopt the draft Decision which will be presented during the session. |
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CULTURAL PROPERTIES
ARAB STATES
13. Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (C 148 rev)
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List 1981
Criteria (ii)(iii)(vi)
Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger 1982-present
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
(cf. Document CLT 82/CH/CONF.015/8)
"[…] the situation of this property corresponds to the criteria mentioned in the ICOMOS note and, in particular, to criteria (e) (significant loss of historical authenticity) and (f) (important loss of cultural significance) as far as "ascertained danger" is concerned, and to criteria (a) (modification of juridical status of the property diminishing the degree of its protection), (b) (lack of conservation policy) and (d) (threatening effects of town planning) as far as "potential danger" is concerned. […]"
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger Not yet drafted
Corrective measures identified Not yet identified
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures Not yet established
Previous Committee Decisions see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148/documents/
International Assistance
Requests approved: 1 (from 1982-1982)
Total amount approved: USD 100,000
For details, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148/assistance/
UNESCO Extra-budgetary Funds
Total amount granted: approximately USD 5,000,000 (since 1988)
Previous monitoring missions
February-March 2004: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM mission; from September 2005 to May 2008: 6 experts missions within the framework of the elaboration of the Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem; February-March 2007: special World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM mission sent by the Director-General of UNESCO for the issue of the Mughrabi ascent; August 2007, January and February 2008: missions for the application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism; March and December 2009: World Heritage Centre missions; December 2013, October 2014, February 2015 and June 2015: project missions.
Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports
● Natural risk factors
● Lack of planning, governance and management processes
● Alteration of the urban and social fabric
● Impact of archaeological excavations
● Deterioration of monuments
● Urban environment and visual integrity
● Traffic, access and circulation
Illustrative material see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148/
Current conservation issues
The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Site proposed by Jordan) was inscribed, as a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, on the World Heritage List in 1981. It has been further inscribed since 1982 on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
A report was provided to the World Heritage Centre by the Israeli Permanent Delegation to UNESCO on 1 February 2016. A joint report was provided to UNESCO by the Jordanian and Palestinian Permanent Delegations on 6 April 2016. These reports are available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148/documents/.
I. Report by the Israeli authorities
It is to be noted that since 1967, the Old City of Jerusalem has been de facto administered by the Israeli authorities. The report submitted on 1 February 2016 underlines that it refers only to new actions taken or ongoing processes in the areas inside the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem — intra muros sites. The report presents a wide range of activities. Most of them are similar to those mentioned in the 2015 report and the previously reported activities are therefore not included in the present document. Updates are summarized hereunder:
a) Overall plans and development
Regarding town planning, the report informs about ongoing processes regarding the comprehensive local plan for the Jewish Quarter in the Old City which intends to set guidelines for the preservation and development of the quarter, as well as enhancing the value of its cultural, historical and archaeological assets. The report further informs that, in March 2015, the plan cleared compliance with threshold requirements of the Regional Planning committee.
Concerning residential block plans, "a professional summary of the research done so far, and which can serve as planning guidelines, has been published and will be submitted as well. All documents have been translated into Arabic to enhance the process of public participation."
The report furthermore provides a list of detailed schemes for the Old City, including notably the Tifferet Israel as well as the Liba (core) House.
Regarding physical infrastructure and design and execution, the report provides a list of upgrading of infrastructures.
The report also informs about implementation of the Old City Lighting masterplan around the Dormition Abbey on Mt. Zion as well as about Interpretation and Orientation Signage being added along main routes.
Furthermore, the report underlines that the four-year contract for Maintenance and Site Management in the Old City was renewed.
b) Archaeology and conservation activities
The report indicates that ongoing conservation works on the Dome of the Rock include preservation of dome mosaics and marble tiles and that ongoing conservation was also conducted in Solomon's Stables. Conservation works were completed on the Eastern Wall.
The report also states that conservation activities included structural works in Ohel Yitzhak Synagogue, Western Wall tunnels conservation and cleaning works as well as cleaning and excavation of the large Mameluke pool.
Furthermore, the report indicates that various works of construction, restoration and maintenance were carried out at the St. Abraham convent.
It also provides information on conservation works and activities in the Old City and along its Walls, which includes development works at the promenade and garden, at the south of the Walls, graffiti cleaning, preliminary conservation actions in the Jewish Quarter as well as others maintenance andrestoration works and mentions "excavation along the foundations of the Western Wall (…) which will help understand the building procedure of the Temple Mount".
The report informs about archaeological research excavations in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park at the Western Wall foundations and at the Western Wall Tunnels.
The report also provides a list of several reported excavations referred to as "salvage excavations" at the Strauss building; in the Jewish Quarter; in the Moslem Quarter; in the Christian Quarter; in the Armenian Quarter, as well as at the Herodian Hall.
Finally, the report provides a list of tourism and cultural events that were organized.
II. Report by the Jordanian and Palestinian authorities
The report was submitted on 6 April 2016. It provides information based on the observations and reports of the Jordanian Jerusalem Awqaf and the Jordanian National Committee for World Heritage. It presents activities undertaken by the Jordanian Jerusalem Awqaf and information on measures undertaken in the Old City, reiterating the concern of the Jordan and Palestinian authorities on these matters.
The content of report is summarized below:
a) Renovation and Conservation activities
The report refers to alleged prevention of the Jordanian Jerusalem Awqaf, from performing emergency restorations and stabilization measures to historical structures and to the Mughrabi Gate Pathway.
Furthermore, the report presents a detailed list of activities and projects undertaken by the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Hashemite Restoration Committee notably on the Dome of the Rock, the dome and columns of the Al-Jame' Al-Aqsa (the Qibli Mosque) as well as in the Marwani Mosque.
The report also indicates that "renovating part of the Eastern Wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif has been stopped although it is one of the urgent projects needed to conserve the historic wall, which is also the eastern wall of the Old City of Jerusalem". The report also indicates alleged new damages on two Mamluk wooden gates of Al-Jame' Al-Aqsa / the Qibli Mosque that were restored recently.
b) Archaeology
This chapter of the report includes several sections which describe constructions, excavations and reported intrusive tunneling actions in and around the Old City1, in particular in the areas of the Western Wall and in Silwan. Of particular concern to the Jordanian and Palestinian authorities are intrusive constructions, tunneling and underground excavations. The report also mentions the plan to open a parking lot on the site of Nea Maria Church, in the southern part of the Old City of Jerusalem a few meters away from the Nabi Dawoud Gate.
In addition, the report provides several examples of construction projects in the Old City of Jerusalem, in a manner that negatively affects the function, visual view and skyline of the Old City. The report expresses concern related to alleged aggressions against religious sites and prayer places.
The report also refers to the Resolutions and Decisions taken in this regard by the United Nations notably.
c) Recommendations
Finally the report adresses several recommendations notably with a view to ensure the implementation of Resolutions and Decisions taken by UNESCO.
Ill. The Mughrabi Ascent
a) Expert meeting
Since its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), the World Heritage Committee has repeatedly asked "the World Heritage Centre to facilitate the professional encounter at the technical level between Israeli, Jordanian and Waqf experts to discuss the detailed proposals for the proposed final design of the Mughrabi ascent, prior to any final decision." (Decision 31 COM 7A.18). Two such meetings took place in Jerusalem on 13 January and 24 February 2008.
UNESCO convened a technical meeting at its Headquarters in 2012, however neither examination nor discussion to reach a consensus on the design of the Mughrabi Ascent could take place on this occasion.
Another meeting was foreseen to take place at the World Heritage Centre in May 2013, however not all the parties concerned were in a position to attend.
Since then, the World Heritage Committee deplored the fact that the meeting of experts on the Mughrabi Ascent had not taken place.
In case it would take place, the Secretariat will be reporting on such a meeting to the World Heritage Committee accordingly, either through an Addendum or orally.
b) Conservation
The information provided in the report by the Jordanian and Palestinian authorities underlines reported "continued concrete constructions and irreversible demolition of major parts of the Mughrabi Gate Pathway (MGP)" in 2014-2015. It refers notably to reported extensive underground tunneling beneath the MGP remains, removal of Historic remains, as well as expansion of new prayer areas. It further indicates that many new constructions and excavations have been continuing through 2015.
IV. UNESCO operational projects
The Norwegian Government and UNESCO signed in December 2011 an agreement for the project "Ensuring the sustainability of the Centre for the Restoration of Islamic Manuscripts of the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem" to build capacities of the staff of the Centre in the preservation of Islamic manuscripts. The stakeholders are currently discussing the possible new phase of the project to be implemented beyond 2016.
The project "Safeguarding, Refurbishment and Revitalization of the Islamic Museum of the Haram al-Sharif and its Collection" started in 2008 with funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project is currently on hold as it requires additional funding to complete the proposed museographical and scenographical planning, which was approved in March 2015 by the Awqaf authorities. A follow-up mission took place in June 2015. The re-opening of the Museum depends on the availability of funds, and is foreseen beyond 2016.
V. Reactive Monitoring mission
The World Heritage Committee requested at its 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) sessions respectively, "a joint World Heritage Centre/ICCROM/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property as referred to in the Operational Guidelines to assess and advise on progress made in the implementation of the Action Plan and, in cooperation and consultation with the concerned parties, to identify appropriate operational and financial mechanisms and modalities to strengthen technical cooperation with all concerned parties in the framework of the Action Plan". However, no agreement could be reached between the concerned parties on the Terms of Reference of the mission which was planned to take place in May 2013.
Since then, the World Heritage Committee has reiterated the request of the dispatch of the mission. In case it would take place, the Secretariat will be reporting on such a mission to the World Heritage Committee accordingly, either through an Addendum or orally.
VI. Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism
The "Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism", requested by the UNESCO Executive Board at its 176th session and by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), has been applied to the Mughrabi Ascent since then. Consequently, nine reports were prepared by the World Heritage Centre and forwarded to the concerned parties and the members of the World Heritage Committee. At its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011), the World Heritage Committee decided to expand the mechanism to the entire Old City of Jerusalem and, thus, six reports were prepared respectively in December 2011, March 2012, February 2013, March 2014, April 2015 as well as in April 2016 and transmitted to the members of the World Heritage Committee and the concerned parties.
Draft Decision: 40 COM 7A.13
The Draft Decision will be presented to the World Heritage Committee during the session.
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1 The issue of the archaeological excavations carried out since 1967 in the Old City of Jerusalem is also the subject of consideration by the Governing Bodies of UNESCO. These archaeological campaigns are in contradiction with article VI. 32 of the 1956 New Delhi Recommendation on International Principles Applicable to Archaeological Excavations, related to excavations in an occupied territory.
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/WHC-1640COM7AAdd2f.pdf
Document Type: Addendum, French text, Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Subject: Assistance, Bethlehem, Education and culture, Holy places, Jerusalem
Publication Date: 27/06/2016