Israel freezes relations with UNESCO

The Israeli government has announced that it is freezing relations and cooperation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The decision was announced by Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister because UNESCO has rejected the Zionist state’s listing of the Ibrahimi and Bilal Bin Rabah Mosques as “Jewish heritage sites”.

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In an official statement described by the Hebrew media as “sharp with far-reaching political implications”, Danny Ayalon said, “Israel freezes its cooperation with UNESCO until the UN organization withdraws its decision regarding Rachel’s Tomb [Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque].” The Deputy Foreign Minister described UNESCO’s decision as “a new attempt to delegitimize Israel”, adding that such decisions “impede the peace process and harm the reputation of UNESCO”.

In its executive board meeting on 20th October, the UN agency agreed five resolutions condemning the Israeli government’s plans to add the two mosques to the list of Jewish heritage sites, the excavations at “Bab el-Magharba” in the Old City of Jerusalem, the difficult living conditions in the Gaza Strip [caused by Israel’s siege of the territory] and the deterioration in the level of culture awareness in the West Bank and Jerusalem.