Israel blocks UNESCO resolution ignoring Jewish ties to Temple Mount

In what is likely an Israeli diplomatic achievement, UNESCO withdrew at the last moment another draft resolution that ignores the historical and archaeological evidence proving the connection the Jewish People have to the Temple Mount.

Minutes before the vote was slated to take place, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) withdrew a draft resolution on Jerusalem that ignores the Jewish People’s ties to the Temple Mount.

The resolution, which was due to be voted on by the 21-members of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee that is now meeting in Istanbul, was apparently withdrawn because its sponsors, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA), realized they failed to garner the votes needed for a majority.

The motion asked that the committee maintain the Old City’s status as an endangered site. It has been a World Heritage site since 1981. It recognized supposed Muslim and Arab historical ties to Israel’s capital, while denying the Jewish ones

Part of the resolution attacks Israeli practices in the Old City, including its actions on the Temple Mount.

Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold on Monday sent a letter to UNESCO in which he accused the organization of being totally “disconnected from reality.”

“As the historical heritage sites of this area are being systematically destroyed by jihadist forces, such as the Islamic State, in Syria and Iraq, UNESCO’s adoption of utterly false allegations about Israeli archaeological practices is misplaced and hypocritical, at best,” Gold wrote.

Gold approached 16 member states and requested that they vote against the motion. His efforts have apparently been fruitful, and Jerusalem views this development as a diplomatic victory.

Its is unclear if and when the resolution will be resubmitted.

In April, UNESCO passed an anti-Israel resolution denying the historical and archaeological evidence proving a long-existing Jewish presence on the Temple Mount.

With 33 votes in favor, six against, and 17 abstentions, the resolution solely referred to the Temple Mount areas by their Muslim names—Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif—with the exception of two references to the Western Wall Plaza in parentheses. The resolution also referred to the Western Wall plaza by its Muslim name, Al-Buraq Plaza.

France and Brazil, which voted in favor of the resolution, later expressed regret.

By: Atara Beck, World Israel News

Dore GoldJerusalemJordanPalestinian AuthorityTemple MountUNESCO