16 oct 2016
'Al-Haram al-Sharif, the sacred shrine of Muslims, is also the Har HaBayit—or Temple Mount—whose Western Wall is the holiest place in Judaism,' says Ban Ki-moon.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon distanced himself on Sunday from a recent UNESCO resolution [PDF] which failed to acknowledge the ties between the Jewish people and the Temple Mount.
Israel suspended its cooperation with the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), claiming the draft resolution it adopted on Thursday denies the deep, historic Jewish connection to the holy sites in Jerusalem. The resolution refers to the holiest site in Judaism—the Temple Mount—only by its Muslim name—Al-Haram Al Sharif.
"The Secretary-General reaffirms the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions and stresses the importance of the religious and historical link of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian peoples to the holy site," said a statement read by the UN Spokesperson on behalf of Ban.
"The Al Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif, the sacred shrine of Muslims, is also the Har HaBayit—or Temple Mount—whose Western Wall is the holiest place in Judaism, a few steps away from the Saint Sepulcher church and the Mount of Olives, which is revered by Christians," Ban added.
He noted that "any perceived undertaking to repudiate the undeniable common reference for these sites does not serve the interests of peace and will only feed violence and radicalism" and called on all sides "to uphold the status quo in relation to the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem."
UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova has already distanced herself from the resolution, emphasizing in a letter to Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni, sent in response to a letter Livni had sent, that "such decisions are discussed and taken by the Member States and not by" the director general herself.
She stressed her organization works "to fight intolerance and contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, including those which seek to delegitimize the State of Israel."
Bokova further repeated her statements from April, July and this week that "the Old City of Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and that Jewish (sic), Christians and Muslims have a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon distanced himself on Sunday from a recent UNESCO resolution [PDF] which failed to acknowledge the ties between the Jewish people and the Temple Mount.
Israel suspended its cooperation with the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), claiming the draft resolution it adopted on Thursday denies the deep, historic Jewish connection to the holy sites in Jerusalem. The resolution refers to the holiest site in Judaism—the Temple Mount—only by its Muslim name—Al-Haram Al Sharif.
"The Secretary-General reaffirms the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions and stresses the importance of the religious and historical link of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian peoples to the holy site," said a statement read by the UN Spokesperson on behalf of Ban.
"The Al Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif, the sacred shrine of Muslims, is also the Har HaBayit—or Temple Mount—whose Western Wall is the holiest place in Judaism, a few steps away from the Saint Sepulcher church and the Mount of Olives, which is revered by Christians," Ban added.
He noted that "any perceived undertaking to repudiate the undeniable common reference for these sites does not serve the interests of peace and will only feed violence and radicalism" and called on all sides "to uphold the status quo in relation to the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem."
UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova has already distanced herself from the resolution, emphasizing in a letter to Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni, sent in response to a letter Livni had sent, that "such decisions are discussed and taken by the Member States and not by" the director general herself.
She stressed her organization works "to fight intolerance and contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, including those which seek to delegitimize the State of Israel."
Bokova further repeated her statements from April, July and this week that "the Old City of Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and that Jewish (sic), Christians and Muslims have a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city."
Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board, Michael Worbs, said communications have been underway to reach a consensus over a recent resolution denying Jewish ties to the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Worbs said more time and dialogue between the members of the board are needed to reach a consensus over historical ties with al-Aqsa Mosque.
Thursday’s vote, which erased any Jewish ties to the Temple Mount or Western Wall by referring to them only by their Islamic names, was taken by UNESCO’s 58-member Program and External Relations Commission in advance of its expected ratification on Tuesday by the UNESCO executive board, which is made up of the same member states.
On Friday, Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the UNESCO resolution, and instructed the Israeli committee to UNESCO to freeze ties with the UN body.
UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, also stepped away from the decision, writing on the UNESCO website that “Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu chided the UN for what he called “an imbalanced approach,” which he claimed rather “indicates the absurdity of the UN’s one-sided, unbalanced attitude toward Israel.”
Worbs said more time and dialogue between the members of the board are needed to reach a consensus over historical ties with al-Aqsa Mosque.
Thursday’s vote, which erased any Jewish ties to the Temple Mount or Western Wall by referring to them only by their Islamic names, was taken by UNESCO’s 58-member Program and External Relations Commission in advance of its expected ratification on Tuesday by the UNESCO executive board, which is made up of the same member states.
On Friday, Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the UNESCO resolution, and instructed the Israeli committee to UNESCO to freeze ties with the UN body.
UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, also stepped away from the decision, writing on the UNESCO website that “Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu chided the UN for what he called “an imbalanced approach,” which he claimed rather “indicates the absurdity of the UN’s one-sided, unbalanced attitude toward Israel.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted two Israeli rights groups for speaking against illegal Israeli settlements and occupation at a UN Security Council meeting.
B’Tselem and Americans for Peace Now, affiliated to the Israeli Peace Now movement, on Friday, joined an informal UN Security Council session on Tel Aviv’s continued construction of illegal settlements on the occupied territories, PressTV said.
At the meeting, B’Tselem had said that the Israeli occupation “flew right in the face of its claim to be exercising “democracy” and reminded that occupation was affecting even the smallest aspects of Palestinian lives and had to end,” PressTV added.
“The UN Security Council must act and the time is now,” B’Tselem Executive Director Hagai El-Ad had said at the meeting, which later denounced Israel for building “illegal settlements,” paving the way for a Security Council resolution against Tel Aviv.
The speeches angered Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who took to Facebook, on Saturday, and said the two organizations that joined the “chorus of mudslinging” against Israel and had recycled the calls that Israeli “occupation and the settlements are the reason for the conflict” with Palestinians.
He also vowed, according to the PNN, that he would bar Israelis from doing volunteer work at B’Tselem as means of doing their military service.
Archive IMEMC post: 7/23/15 BESA Poll: 53% of Israelis Agree on Settlement Evacuation
In response, B’Tselem stated that it would not be intimidated by Netanyahu.
“We will not stoop down to the prime minister’s level. We will not be cowed and neither will the hundreds of thousands in Israel who opposed the occupation,” it said. “We will continue to tell the truth: The occupation must end.”
Israel came about in 1948, when it occupied the Palestinian land along with expanses of other Arab territories during full-fledged military operations. The occupied lands also include Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms and Syria’s Golan Heights.
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haavara_Agreement
In 1967, Israel occupied and later annexed the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds), and the Gaza Strip. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but has been keeping the territory under a crippling siege and regular deadly forays.
Palestinians now make up the largest percentage of refugees in the entire world, according to UN statistics.
Ever since the beginning of the occupation, the territories have been dotted with 120 settlements. There is international consensus that these settlements have been constructed on occupied territory and are, therefore, illegal.
Edited for the IMEMC by chris @ imemc.org
Related interest: 10/14/16 Palestine Advocacy Project Publishes Ads in Major University Newspapers Condemning Israeli Leaders
B’Tselem and Americans for Peace Now, affiliated to the Israeli Peace Now movement, on Friday, joined an informal UN Security Council session on Tel Aviv’s continued construction of illegal settlements on the occupied territories, PressTV said.
At the meeting, B’Tselem had said that the Israeli occupation “flew right in the face of its claim to be exercising “democracy” and reminded that occupation was affecting even the smallest aspects of Palestinian lives and had to end,” PressTV added.
“The UN Security Council must act and the time is now,” B’Tselem Executive Director Hagai El-Ad had said at the meeting, which later denounced Israel for building “illegal settlements,” paving the way for a Security Council resolution against Tel Aviv.
The speeches angered Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who took to Facebook, on Saturday, and said the two organizations that joined the “chorus of mudslinging” against Israel and had recycled the calls that Israeli “occupation and the settlements are the reason for the conflict” with Palestinians.
He also vowed, according to the PNN, that he would bar Israelis from doing volunteer work at B’Tselem as means of doing their military service.
Archive IMEMC post: 7/23/15 BESA Poll: 53% of Israelis Agree on Settlement Evacuation
In response, B’Tselem stated that it would not be intimidated by Netanyahu.
“We will not stoop down to the prime minister’s level. We will not be cowed and neither will the hundreds of thousands in Israel who opposed the occupation,” it said. “We will continue to tell the truth: The occupation must end.”
Israel came about in 1948, when it occupied the Palestinian land along with expanses of other Arab territories during full-fledged military operations. The occupied lands also include Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms and Syria’s Golan Heights.
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haavara_Agreement
In 1967, Israel occupied and later annexed the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds), and the Gaza Strip. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but has been keeping the territory under a crippling siege and regular deadly forays.
Palestinians now make up the largest percentage of refugees in the entire world, according to UN statistics.
Ever since the beginning of the occupation, the territories have been dotted with 120 settlements. There is international consensus that these settlements have been constructed on occupied territory and are, therefore, illegal.
Edited for the IMEMC by chris @ imemc.org
Related interest: 10/14/16 Palestine Advocacy Project Publishes Ads in Major University Newspapers Condemning Israeli Leaders
The Israeli authorities have placed the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under a very strict siege, while Israeli celebrates the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
The decision was made by both the political and military branches of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
The closure remains in effects from Saturday night at midnight until Monday night at midnight.
The Israeli army said that “only in rare medical emergencies that the Palestinians will be allowed to cross into Israel, or travel abroad.”
The closure also means a significant increase of military roadblocks in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem.
The decision was made by both the political and military branches of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
The closure remains in effects from Saturday night at midnight until Monday night at midnight.
The Israeli army said that “only in rare medical emergencies that the Palestinians will be allowed to cross into Israel, or travel abroad.”
The closure also means a significant increase of military roadblocks in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem.
15 oct 2016
Hamas on Saturday leveled heavy criticism at Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, after she distanced herself from Thursday's vote on al-Aqsa Mosque.
AccorDing to Hamas, Bokova opted for the position following pressure from the Israeli occupation.
Hamas called on Bokova to never succumb to Israeli pressure and respect UNESCO’s resolution denying any Israeli link to the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city," Bokova claimed in a statement.
Jerusalem's Old City was designated a World Heritage site because of its "universal value ... which is an appeal for dialogue, not confrontation", Bokova added.
The Palestinians expect Bokova to focus her efforts on implementing the will of member states and preserving Occupied Jerusalem from the Israeli aggressions and attempt to wipe its inherently Islamic identity.
A UNESCO draft resolution passed on Thursday condemned Israel's policies around al-Aqsa Mosque and denied Jewish ties to the holy site.
Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO on Friday, a day after the UN cultural body criticised it for restricting Muslim access to the site, and for aggression by Israeli police and soldiers. UNESCO also recognized Israel as the occupying power.
The Holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, is the third-holiest site in Islam.
AccorDing to Hamas, Bokova opted for the position following pressure from the Israeli occupation.
Hamas called on Bokova to never succumb to Israeli pressure and respect UNESCO’s resolution denying any Israeli link to the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city," Bokova claimed in a statement.
Jerusalem's Old City was designated a World Heritage site because of its "universal value ... which is an appeal for dialogue, not confrontation", Bokova added.
The Palestinians expect Bokova to focus her efforts on implementing the will of member states and preserving Occupied Jerusalem from the Israeli aggressions and attempt to wipe its inherently Islamic identity.
A UNESCO draft resolution passed on Thursday condemned Israel's policies around al-Aqsa Mosque and denied Jewish ties to the holy site.
Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO on Friday, a day after the UN cultural body criticised it for restricting Muslim access to the site, and for aggression by Israeli police and soldiers. UNESCO also recognized Israel as the occupying power.
The Holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, is the third-holiest site in Islam.
Irina Bokova (L) and Tzipi Livni
Irina Bokova, responding to a letter from the former Israeli foreign minister, distanced herself from her cultural agency's controversial decision and affirmed their commitment to fighting anti-Semitism.
After Education Minister Naftali Bennett's (Bayit Yehudi) announcement that Israel would cease its cooperation with UNESCO, the director general of the UN's cultural body, Irina Bokova, clarified in a letter to Hatnuah Party Leader MK Tzipi Livni that the organization works "to fight intolerance and contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, including those which seek to delegitimize the State of Israel."
Bokova's letter was in response to one that Livni sent to her the eve of the UNESCO executive board's controversial adoption of a draft resolution that disregards the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall.
Bokova's letter, addressed to Livni in her capacity as "Former Foreign Minister of the State of Israel," begins by emphasizing that "such decisions are discussed and taken by the Member States and not by" the director general herself. She added that, as such, she transferred Livni's letter to Michael Worbs, the chairperson of the executive board.
Bokova repeated her statements from April, July and this week that "the Old City of Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and that Jewish (sic), Christians and Muslims have a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city."
The director general continued, in apparent opposition to the draft resolution as approved by her executive board, "I firmly believe that to deny or conceal any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site."
Bokova pointed out some of the Israeli sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list and some of the organization's projects that "attest to our commitment to Jewish culture and bear witness to our knowledge and respect for the ties between the Jewish People and the Holy Land, including Jerusalem."
She also touted UNESCO's being "the only UN agency with a dedicated programme on Holocaust education."
In Livni's letter to UNESCO on Thursday, she warned that the member states' adopting the draft resolution was likely to incite religious conflict and undermine the sensitive status quo in Jerusalem.
Irina Bokova, responding to a letter from the former Israeli foreign minister, distanced herself from her cultural agency's controversial decision and affirmed their commitment to fighting anti-Semitism.
After Education Minister Naftali Bennett's (Bayit Yehudi) announcement that Israel would cease its cooperation with UNESCO, the director general of the UN's cultural body, Irina Bokova, clarified in a letter to Hatnuah Party Leader MK Tzipi Livni that the organization works "to fight intolerance and contemporary forms of anti-Semitism, including those which seek to delegitimize the State of Israel."
Bokova's letter was in response to one that Livni sent to her the eve of the UNESCO executive board's controversial adoption of a draft resolution that disregards the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall.
Bokova's letter, addressed to Livni in her capacity as "Former Foreign Minister of the State of Israel," begins by emphasizing that "such decisions are discussed and taken by the Member States and not by" the director general herself. She added that, as such, she transferred Livni's letter to Michael Worbs, the chairperson of the executive board.
Bokova repeated her statements from April, July and this week that "the Old City of Jerusalem is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and that Jewish (sic), Christians and Muslims have a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city."
The director general continued, in apparent opposition to the draft resolution as approved by her executive board, "I firmly believe that to deny or conceal any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site."
Bokova pointed out some of the Israeli sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list and some of the organization's projects that "attest to our commitment to Jewish culture and bear witness to our knowledge and respect for the ties between the Jewish People and the Holy Land, including Jerusalem."
She also touted UNESCO's being "the only UN agency with a dedicated programme on Holocaust education."
In Livni's letter to UNESCO on Thursday, she warned that the member states' adopting the draft resolution was likely to incite religious conflict and undermine the sensitive status quo in Jerusalem.