Fatah welcomes UNESCO vote that calls Israel ‘occupying power’
July 6, 2017 | 12:00 AM
July 6, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Last Updated: July 6, 2017 | 12:00 AM
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West Bank — The ruling Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Tuesday’s UNESCO resolution that called Israel the “occupying power”.
Commenting on the decision, Fatah’s Europe spokesman Jamal Nazzal said that “this organization’s vote on this issue is doing historic justice, and also reflects the international position that is opposed to Israel’s policy, as well as our position that denies recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation.”
The resolution, passed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, refers to Israel “the occupying power” and denies Israel’s claims to the Old City and east Jerusalem.
The resolution explicitly denied Israel’s sovereignty over parts of its capital for the first time.
The text of the resolution states that UNESCO “regrets the failure of the Israeli occupying authorities to cease the persistent excavations, tunneling, works, projects and other illegal practices in east Jerusalem, particularly in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law.”
Tuesday›s resolution is not be the first time that UNESCO has targeted Israel.
In May, UNESCO passed a resolution declaring Israeli laws and administrative measures regarding Jerusalem to be “null and void”.
In 2016, the World Heritage Committee in UNESCO voted in favor of a resolution declaring the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound a Muslim holy site. — Agencies
Commenting on the decision, Fatah’s Europe spokesman Jamal Nazzal said that “this organization’s vote on this issue is doing historic justice, and also reflects the international position that is opposed to Israel’s policy, as well as our position that denies recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation.”
The resolution, passed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, refers to Israel “the occupying power” and denies Israel’s claims to the Old City and east Jerusalem.
The resolution explicitly denied Israel’s sovereignty over parts of its capital for the first time.
The text of the resolution states that UNESCO “regrets the failure of the Israeli occupying authorities to cease the persistent excavations, tunneling, works, projects and other illegal practices in east Jerusalem, particularly in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law.”
Tuesday›s resolution is not be the first time that UNESCO has targeted Israel.
In May, UNESCO passed a resolution declaring Israeli laws and administrative measures regarding Jerusalem to be “null and void”.
In 2016, the World Heritage Committee in UNESCO voted in favor of a resolution declaring the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound a Muslim holy site. — Agencies
