PLO appeals to UNESCO to prevent demolition of Jerusalem's Moroccan Gate Bridge

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) has appealed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to provide international protection for places of religious and cultural heritage in Palestine. The appeal was made following Israeli approval for the demolition of the historic Moroccan Gate Bridge adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Sanctuary. The Israelis claim that the bridge is unsafe and must be torn down “within 30 days”.

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A statement by the PLO’s Department of International Relations called upon UNESCO “to take firm action on Israeli policies aimed at the destruction of the cultural and humanitarian heritage of the Palestinian people, especially Israel’s escalation of its Judaisation policy, which is damaging the heritage of the Old City.”

The PLO added that the Israeli occupation authorities are “pursuing destructive policies towards Palestinian heritage”, citing the so-called “Museum of Tolerance” to be built on the historic Ma’man Allah Cemetery, as well as the bridge to the Moroccan Gate. Both, says the PLO, are integral to the Arab cultural heritage of Jerusalem.