Ashrawi Calls on UNESCO to Defend Palestinian Heritage

Hanan Ashrawi, the member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has welcomed on Monday the Executive Council of the UNESCO's adoption of two resolutions related to Palestine and the need to preserve the educational and cultural institutions, as well as protect heritage sites in occupied Jerusalem, Hebron and other Palestinian cities.

Ashrawi has stressed, in a statement, on the importance of this vote, for it confirms the role and mandate of "UNESCO", and the need to confront Israeli violations committed against heritage sites.

She has pointed out that the "UNESCO" should take serious proactive steps, in light of the ongoing Israeli escalation against the Palestinian heritage sites in Jerusalem, Hebron and the Battir amphitheater in Bethlehem, including illegal annexation plan targeting specifically historical and archaeological places.

"We expect more from UNESCO, in particular from the Director-General of the Organization Audrey Azoulay, by taking effective measures to protect the Palestinian heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and to defend the cultural and educational rights of the Palestinian people, which are subject to a systematic destruction policy from Israel," Ashrawi added.

Finally, Ashrawi has demanded Azoulay to implement the mandate of "UNESCO" in Palestine and stand in the face of the continuous Israeli aggression against Palestinian heritage and history, and not to be silent about that, as it contradicts the principles of "UNESCO".

Source : Safa