Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' to seek to add Machpeila Cave to UNESCO heritage list in February

The 'Palestinian Authority' plans to apply to UNESCO in February to have the Machpeila Cave and the Old City of Hebron declared UNESCO heritage sites. It goes without saying that they would classify the cave - the burial place of the three founding fathers of the Jewish nation and their wives - as a mosque.

The Palestinians say they will ask UNESCO to formally recognise their cultural attachment to the Ibrahimi Mosque in February -- a move only made possible by their admission to the UN body two months ago.

"Before we gained membership, we didn't have the right to add a Palestinian archaeological site to the World Heritage List because we are under occupation and the only way to do it was through friendly countries," said Palestinian culture minister Siham al-Barghuti.

"Now we can ask UNESCO to add our archaeological and religious sites to the World Heritage List," she said. "It's the main benefit we've won." And if granted, would be a second symbolic victory after UNESCO membership.

Before the diplomatic wrangling starts, the Palestinians want to send clear signs that their people cherish the Ibrahami Mosque -- as on November 26 when huge crowds gathered there to mark the Muslim New Year, many with their hair newly cut in line with tradition.

"I haven't seen such crowds for long time, it's five times more people than were here last year," said Palestinian Hijazi Abu Sneineh, who called it a "reaffirmation of the Arab and Islamic character of the mosque".

While both Muslims and Jews pray at the compound, the site has been divided into separate sections since 1994 when an Israeli settler opened fire on Palestinian worshippers, killing 29 of them.

Despite the mosque's bloody past, Salah Abu Turki, 44, proudly carried his baby son for his circumcision ceremony -- a rare event in recent years because of Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access to the site.

"It's a great honour for me that my son is being circumcised here," he said.

"The settlers also circumcise their children here, but we have more rights to do so than them because this place is a mosque and this is an ancient tradition for the people of Hebron," he said.

Heritage efforts are focussed on more than the mosque. The city's Mayor Khaled Essili recently returned from Paris where he took part in a conference at the Institut du Monde Arabe in support of adding Hebron's entire Old City, including its holy sites, to the World Heritage List.

"We started a campaign three years ago to add Hebron's Old City to the UNESCO list," he said.

"Now the request is ready and we will present it to UNESCO in February 2012."

I wonder if the Americans will even make noise about withholding aid to the 'Palestinian Authority' over this.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Hebron, Machpeila cave, UNESCO

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:55 PM