Preservation of Jerusalem’s cultural heritage – UNESCO Executive Board – Decisions (excerpts)

EXECUTIVE BOARD

HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION

DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

AT ITS 127TH SESSION

(PARIS, 23 SEPTEMBER-18 NOVEMBER 1987)

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5.4    Culture and communication

5.4.1 Jerusalem and the implementation of 23 C/Resolution 11.3;

Report by the Director-General (127 EX/12 and Corr. and 127 EX/46)

The Executive Board,

1. Recalling the provisions of the Constitution of UNESCO relating to the conservation and protection of and respect for the natural heritage and cultural property, especially property of outstanding universal value,

2. Recalling the Hague Convention and Protocol of 1954 concerning the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict,

3. Recalling the Geneva  Convention  of  1949  concerning  the protection of civilians in time of war, particularly those provisions that relate to UNESCO's fields of competence,

4. Recalling the decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations concerning Jerusalem,

5. Recalling the decision taken by the Executive Board at its 125th session inviting the Director-General to submit to it at its 127th session a synoptic report on the application of the resolutions and decisions regarding the cultural heritage of Jerusalem,

6. Having  examined  that  report  by  the  Director-General (127 EX/12 and Corr.),

7. Noting with grave concern the serious factors recounted in the  report  by  Professor Lemaire  (127 EX/12  and Corr.) including:

(a) delays in the implementation of UNESCO resolutions and decisions concerning excavations,

(b) the damage to historic and cultural sites of Jerusalem caused by the construction of major complexes, such as housing districts and industrial zones,

(c) demolitions in the Maghribi quarter and of certain historic edifices,

(d) the permission granted by the occupying authorities to extremist  individuals  and groups  to  settle in the occupied Muslim quarter and establish 'yeshivoth' there, which  is  seen by  the  Palestinian population as a provocation and is apt to give rise to disturbances,

(e) the taking of land by means of expropriation, without the prior agreement of the owners, which has struck a blow at the cultural heritage of the City,

(f) the application of a settlement policy that has brought about a profound geographical and demographic change in occupied Jerusalem, and is intended to be irreversible,

8. Reaffirming the unique role of the City of Jerusalem in the history of mankind and, consequently, the urgent need to take all appropriate measures to safeguard its cultural character, its homogeneity and its irreplaceable universal value,

9. Reaffirms the previous decisions and resolutions adopted by UNESCO to safeguard all the spiritual, cultural, historical and other values of the City;

10. Deplores once again all the acts committed since the occupation of the Holy City, in particular the attempts to occupy  the Haram-al-Sharif, the attack on the Dome of the Rock, the arson  at  the  al-Aqsa  Mosque,  the  regular  assertion  of the 'rights of Jews' over the Haram esplanade and the intention expressed by certain extremist religious groups of demolishing the Dome of the Rock;

11. Strongly deplores the carrying out of such serious acts as the digging of the 'tunnel' along the west wall of the Haram-al-Sharif and the installation of 'yeshivoth' in the Muslim quarter and holds the occupying authorities responsible for all their consequences;

12. Deplores the destruction and modifications suffered during the occupation by the monumental heritage and the traditional historical site of the City;

13. Thanks the Director-General for all the efforts he has made to ensure the  implementation of UNESCO's  decisions  and resolutions;

14. Once again urgently draws the attention of the international community to the deterioration of the Islamic cultural and religious heritage and invites Member States, foundations and individuals to support the efforts of the Waqf, the owner of this heritage;

15. Invites the Director-General:

(a) to continue, so long as Jerusalem remains occupied, to ensure the strict application of UNESCO's decisions and resolutions relating to the safeguarding of the City's cultural heritage;

(b) to submit to it at its 130th session a global report on the modifications undergone by the City of Jerusalem in UNESCO's fields of competence  as  a result  of the occupation;

16. Decides  to  place  this  question  on  the  agenda  of its 130th session, with a view to taking such decisions as may be required by the situation obtaining at the time of that session.

(127 EX/SR 1 and 17)

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