The executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has approved a resolution recognising the holy sites of occupied East Jerusalem as part of the heritage of Palestine. And naturally, that determination has raised the ire of Israeli authorities, who have the unshakable — and fully wrong — belief that it is up to them, and them alone, to have any and every say over the territory that they have illegally and criminally occupied for almost 50 years.
The reality is that Unesco, along with all of its constituent members, recognises the independence and importance of Palestine and admitted it to its rank of nations five years ago. That, at the time, also raised the ire of Israel, who made its usual screams of disapproval. The reality too is that all of the constituent members of Unesco are tired of Israel’s incessant claims of wrong-doing. All know fully well that if there is any wrong-doing, it is at the hands of Israel. It is they who have subjugated the Palestinian people for decades, demolished their homes, cut down their olive trees and imprisoned and tortured them without a care or any thought in the world for the notion of natural justice.
When it comes to culture, Israel has done everything in its power to erase Palestinian, Arab and Muslim culture. Israel dares suggest that it opposed the Unesco resolution because it denies the Jewish connection to the city.
The Unesco board adopted the resolution by consensus at a session in Paris and Israel has cut its ties with the organisation because of the resolution and previous measures from the UN body that highlighted the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its aggressions against Palestinians in prohibiting access to places of worship and access to Al Haram Al Sharif.
As far as Israel is concerned, its actions in occupied East Jerusalem simply amount to building new colonies for Jews, and illegally expanding its influence there. The UN General Assembly has, in the past, condemned Israeli actions in building new colonies and has supported the right of Palestinians to protect their homes, heritage, religious and archaeological sites. Consistently, Israel has called in the favours of its American allies to veto condemnation at the Security Council. However, support for Israel is wearing thin, as nations see the full extent of its hypocrisy and the injustices it perpetuates against Palestinians. Thankfully, the board of Unesco has the ability to act freely and this resolution rightly reflects that.
