Letter to the Members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee - Call to Oppose "The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" Resolution

Letter

As the 40th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee holds its annual meeting on October 24 -- 26th, we write to urge your mission to oppose "The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" resolution.

The Old City of Jerusalem is important to the three monotheistic religions, and we celebrate the heritage and cultural ties of these religions to Jerusalem. Unfortunately​​, this proposed resolution is yet another attempt to rewrite history by denying Jewish and Christian ties to Jerusalem. The Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, along with the Western Wall, where Jews from all over the world come to pray, are again described exclusively as Muslim holy sites and are referred to only by their Muslim names. References to the Western Wall are in quotation marks implying that the title is unofficial and not based on historical fact.

As you may be aware, on October 7th, a group of 41 bipartisan Members of the United States Congress sent letters to Member States of UNESCO's Executive Board urging them to oppose a similar resolution that was designed to diminish Jewish and Christian ties to Jerusalem and delegitimize Israel. The United States was joined by several other Member delegations voting against the resolution. The resolution also received widespread criticism, as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO's Chairman of the Board, Michael Worbs, expressed strong objections over the one-sided text.

Jewish and Christian ties to the holy sites in Jerusalem are irrefutable, and attempts to distort this historical truth undermine the very purpose and integrity of UNESCO. The upcoming resolution at the World Heritage Committee is every bit as divisive as the Executive Board resolution, despite Jerusalem's inscription as a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Furthermore, attempting to erase the Jewish and Christian connection to this sacred city will further damage the prospects of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. It is incumbent upon all Member States of the World Heritage Committee to respect and protect the religious, cultural, and historical significance of Jerusalem and to uphold the values and ideals enshrined in UNESCO's Constitution.

We therefore respectfully urge your mission to UNESCO to oppose "The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls" resolution at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee.