Israel Matzav

A deal at UNESCO

It's been a crazy day with business meetings... in fact, it's been a crazy week....

The United States has brokered a deal between Israel and the 'Palestinian Authority' at UNESCO, which saw the 'Palestinian Authority' stop the UN agency from condemning Israel for construction at the Mughrabi bridge to the Temple Mount (pictured).

Following US intervention, the Palestinian Authority has agreed to postpone five resolutions condemning Israel that they were to present to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) executive board in Paris, Israel Radio reported Wednesday.

The resolutions would have condemned Israel's activity in the West Bank as well as its endangerment of Jerusalem's "Arab character", the radio said. 

As part of the agreement brokered by the US between the PA, Jordan and Israel, Israel has in return agreed to allow UNESCO experts to survey a number of sites in Jerusalem. Israel has also agreed to take part in UNESCO meetings about the Mugrabi Bridge, which runs from the Western Wall plaza to the Temple Mount and which has been a source of conflict between Israel and the Waqf Muslim religious trust. 

Citing safety concerns of Jerusalem city engineer Shlomo Eshkol the municipality closed the Mugrabi Bridge in December, 2011. The closure elicited harsh reactions from both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, with Hamas warning that the closure was tantamount to a “declaration of war” on Muslim holy sites. 

I wonder what other sites in Jerusalem they are going to survey and how that information will be used against us.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Judaization, Mughrabi gate, Palestinian Authority, Temple Mount, UNESCO

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:23 PM