UNESCO Lists 6 West Bank and Lebanon Sites as Endangered Despite Israeli Objections
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 24
UNESCO Lists 6 West Bank and Lebanon Sites as Endangered Despite Israeli Objections
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 24
Summary
A UNESCO committee in Busan used an emergency procedure to place six sites in the occupied West Bank and southern Lebanon on both the World Heritage and endangered lists at once.
The agency cited damage and risk from ongoing conflict, including Israeli expropriation plans around Sebastia and Lebanese claims that bombardment destroyed Shamaa Castle and threatened Beaufort Castle.
Sebastia near Nablus—identified as ancient Samaria—had been nominated by Palestinian officials in 2012, who said an Israeli national park plan would fence off roughly 200 hectares and divert tourism from Palestinians.
Israel lobbied against the listings, said the West Bank move erased Jewish ties to the land, and disputed Lebanese claims by alleging Hezbollah had used Beaufort as a military position.
The vote deepens a long-running UNESCO-Israel rift after Israel quit the agency in 2019; earlier this week, UNESCO also added the ancient Lebanese city of Tyre to its endangered list.