UNESCO resolution to declare the Western Wall a Muslim site
World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder today warned UNESCO against exacerbating tensions in Israel by adopting a Palestinian-sponsored resolution that declares the Western Wall in Jerusalem a part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Ronald S. Lauder
Ahead of a vote by the UNESCO Executive Council later this week, Lauder said the proposal “goes in the face of the UNESCO Constitution, which very clearly states the organization’s aim to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration and coexistence. It would make a mockery of that founding principle if the UNESCO Executive Council were to back such a resolution. UNESCO must not be turned into a battleground for conflicts between religions.”
The WJC president added: “For thousands of years, Jews have lived and prayed in Jerusalem. Since 1967, the State of Israel has safeguarded the right of worship of all three monotheistic religions present in Jerusalem, including the right of Muslims to pray on the Mount.
“However, declaring the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest place, a Muslim site would be a travesty. Instead of fostering peace, it would only encourage extremists to step up their campaign against Jews, both in Israel and beyond.”
Lauder appealed to all 58 member countries on the UNESCO Executive to vote against the proposal: “Everybody should see that this is not about protecting holy sites; it’s about bashing Israel, it’s about sowing the seeds of strife, and it’s about legitimizing violence. It must be stopped.”
The proposal, which is sponsored by six Arab states (Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates) on behalf of the Palestinians, proposes to declare that the Western Wall is part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and called Buraq Plaza.
It also blames Israel for the recent wave of Palestinian violence and terror, urges that the Jewish state is condemned for the excavations near the Temple Mount and in the Old City of Jerusalem, and for what is termed the “aggression and illegal measures taken against the freedom of worship and access of Muslim to al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel’s attempts to break the status quo since 1967″.
Moreover, the draft resolution seeks to confirm an earlier UNESCO decision that the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb, two West Bank sites holy to both Jews and Muslims, are part of a Palestinian state.
Unesco proves it is a disgustingly biased organisation able to be ruled by mob rule and that the many nations against the Jews forget the medical miracles that prolong life and reduce suffering contributed to greatly by Jewish doctors .
As for Civilization the Ten Commandments are a basis of Human Rights.
But with brutal and dysfunctional regimes in the Islamic Lands and in Africa and other lands these insane and bizarre proclamations by UNESCO prove the orgsmanization is in the pocket of Brutality and Fascism
Lauder’s statement is typical of the professional Jew who makes high minded diplomatic statements and avoids the issue: the resolution seeks to deny Jews access to their holiest site and consequently it is antisemitic.
The issue is not that there would be increased tension; that is a political consideration outside UNESCO’s remit. The real political message is that Jews have no right to the Temple Mount, hence no rights in Jerusalem and consequently any Israeli action to assert control is illegal and may call for a Chapter 7 UN action to compel Israel to give up Jerusalem.
As the resolution seeks to change the status quo as well as perverting history – the UN diplomatic equivalent of ISIS’s destruction in Palmyra – Israel should pre-empt it by taking back control of the Temple Mount from the Waqf, clearing it of the professional protesters in the pay of the northern alliance and banning mohammedan prayer in the mosques until the resolution is withdrawn.
Further, the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, whose hands cannot be clean when it is silent in the face of a resolution affecting its control, should be reviewed. Israel needs to go on a war footing as the murders and this resolution are just a part of the regional conflict started by the Arab winter.
Spit on your finger hold it up to the wind and see which way it’s blowing……first UNESCO a precurser to full membership of the UN, non member Observer Status, recognition as a state then flag flying side by side with the Holy See’s through a new UN resolution a month ago.
It was all on the cards and supported by the Holy See.
And we thought that Egypt signed a Peace Agreement with Israel. How much more mendacity does the word need to see before it can recognize the evil that refuses to die?
What planet are the members of UNESCO on?
Declaring the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest place, a Muslim site would be more than a travesty.
The western wall is part of King Solomon’s Temple it was built long before Islam.
Just can’t believe the stupidity of UNESCO but there again the supporters of the move are arabs.
It is about time Israel started removing war mongering types and send them back to Palestine. They obviously don’t recognise the benefits of living peace and harmony in Israel.