UNESCO chief ‘deplores’ bid to name Western Wall part of Al-Aqsa

[geek tragedy]

http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-chief-deplores-bid-to-name-western-wall-part-of-al-aqsa/

The move, Irina Bokova warned on UNESCO’s website, “could be seen to alter the status of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls and incite further tensions.”



The executive board had been scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution submitted by Arab states that would officially recognize the Western Wall as part of the Muslim holy site, but Bokova postponed the vote until Wednesday. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sources say a number of countries are attempting to postpone the vote beyond Wednesday.


“We all have responsibility to UNESCO’s mandate, to take decisions that promote dialogue, tolerance and peace,” Bokova said.

The director-general urged both sides to ensure that the cultural and religious heritage at the holy site is preserved and accessible to everyone, and encouraged a return to dialogue “in the spirit of mutual understanding.”

I agree with her--that resolution is deplorable and would only make things a lot worse. It also confirms a lot of the criticism that gets lobbed at UNESCO.

[Scootaloo]

1. Unesco's chief is trying to fend it off, and that "confirms a lot of the criticism"?

[geek tragedy]

3. that such an extremist, reckless, crazy proposal would pass without her intervention

suggests something is indeed very rotten there.

Just like there would be outrage if the Knesset even considered a bill declaring the Dome on the Rock to be part of a future Jewish Temple.

[Scootaloo]

4. Where does it say it would pass?

Postponing the vote does not mean it would pass. it means the vote is being postponed. As for the subject itself, any nation can submit any proposal they like. That's sort of the point of the United nations, after all.

[geek tragedy]

7. UNESCO board membership

is largely hostile to Israel.

[Scootaloo]

8. So you're making an assumption in order to validate your assumptions.

[geek tragedy]

10. To step back, that this vote is even being attempted shows that UNESCO is viewed as a vehicle by

which to persecute Israel.

Certainly by the 6 (purportedly moderate) Muslim countries sponsoring this piece of fecal napalm--Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Kuwait, UAE.

It's an attempted act of cultural imperialism.

And it certainly validates the Israeli narrative that the Muslim world is batshit insane in its desire to eliminate Judaism in the Middle East.

[Scootaloo]

11. Any nation can propose whatever they like.

I know it's a HUGE struggle for a lot of people, but the UN is a democracy. Nations are equal in the UN. This is why Nauru's constant votes to support the destruction of Palestine count as much as Jordan's vote against that does. Never see ToI articles complaining about that, of course.

And take another step back... and it becomes a response to an attempted act of cultural imperialism. if you haven't been paying attention, Israel is expanding its efforts to control the Mosque complex. It's not a smart response... But then Israel can't really complain when it's using unilateral violence and oppression to do exactly the same thing to Muslims.

[geek tragedy]

12. if you peruse the discussions on that topic here, you will find

that I take a very dim view of the games being played by the Israelis w/r/t haram al-sharif/Temple Mount.

UNESCO is supposed to be focused on cultural preservation and dialogue. Its mission is not to serve as a vehicle to litigate tribal feuds.

As far as the UN being a democracy, um no.

http://www.un.org/en/sc/members/

[Scootaloo]

15. Yes, the security council is a big ol' asterisk there. But you still get the point.

And yes, UNESCO is focused on cultural preservation.

In this particular case, Israel using violence to assert its authority, in order to allow people with a proven track record of violence, vandalism, arson, and extreme Islamophobia unrestricted access to one of the oldest and most important sites of Islam. After all, it's the "settlers" who are really pressing on the issue. It seems to me that that should be of concern for UNESCO.

I don't suppose anyone here has primary sources for the draft resolution?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. I really hope that it doesn't go anywhere.

The only thing that it does is expose the hypocrites that want to mumble softly in prayer onsomebody else's hallowed ground.

[oberliner]

5. "on somebody else's hallowed ground"

Absolutely disgusting comment. Just straight up anti-Jewish bigotry.

And exactly indicative of what the anti-Jewish folks who conceived of this resolution were trying to do - remove the Jewishness from the holiest Jewish sites.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

9. Let me be frank with you.

I don't care about you vacant protests.

Only somebody that is jonesing for a 3rd temple, pushing the Muslims away from the Noble Sanctuary, is interested in playing the victim on this.

Now so you completely understand how and why I don't care about anybody's hollow utterances let me be even more plain spoken.

If there was a Temple in existence on the mount instead of Al Asqa, and the last Mosque stood there 1,800 years ago while Muslims wanted to go and mumble softly, I would say exactly the same thing.

Get over yourselves. The mount has new owners. Go build some place else and deal with it.

[oberliner]

6. Thanks for posting this

It's good news - I hope she is successful in getting this shelved.

I totally agree with your stance on this.

[azurnoir]

14. Ms Bokova's statement

On 16 October, the Director General of UNESCO expressed concern about escalating violence around and against cultural and religious heritage in the Middle East.

Today, the Director-General expresses renewed deep concerns and, in this spirit, she has started broad consultations so as to encourage UNESCO Member States to pursue constructive dialogue in accordance with UNESCO’s mandate.

She deplores the recent proposals under discussion by the UNESCO Executive Board that could be seen to alter the status of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, and that could further incite tensions.

The Director-General appeals to the UNESCO Executive Board to take decisions that do not further inflame tensions on the ground and that encourage respect for the sanctity of the Holy Sites.

The protection of cultural heritage should not be taken hostage, as this undermines UNESCO’s mandate and efforts.

“We all have responsibility to UNESCO’s mandate, to take decisions that promote dialogue, tolerance and peace,” said Irina Bokova. “This is especially important for young people, who should be nurtured and educated for peace.”

Jerusalem is a Holy Land of the three monotheistic religions, a place of dialogue for all Jewish, Christian and Muslim people. It is a mosaic of cultures and peoples, whose history has shaped the history of all humanity.

The Director-General has always appealed for dialogue and consensus so that UNESCO’s mandate of protecting World Heritage and promoting tolerance and mutual respect can be taken forward.

In this spirit, she reiterates today her calls to all parties to ensure that cultural heritage, including religious, is preserved and accessible to all and to resume dialogue in the spirit of mutual understanding.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1134&pid=115837