Ramallah, 22 March 2024 (TDI): Today, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Riyad Al-Maliki has shared that the State of Palestine’s Resolutions are unanimously approved by UNESCO.
The Resolutions have been approved by the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 219th session held today in Paris.
Broadly, the themes of the Resolutions encompass occupation of the State of Palestine and its cultural and educational institutions.
Resolutions vital for preservation of Palestinian Heritage
He has pointed out that the adoption of these resolutions is vital to preserve the rights of the Palestinian people in the areas of UNESCO’s work.
Furthermore, UNESCO’s approval is imperative in the backdrop of the crimes and violations committed by the occupying power Israel which showed complete disregard for international law, international humanitarian law, and the precautionary and temporary procedures and measures of the International Court of Justice.
Principally, Al-Maliki stressed that the adoption of these resolutions is a testament to the ability of the international community to carry out its responsibilities.
He reiterated that unanimous acceptance has manifested the global capacity to confront violations and monitor the damage to implement an urgent action plan, thereby, protecting the Palestinian people, their cultural heritage, and history which are threatened by Israeli colonialism.
In addition, it has affirmed the commitment to rebuilding and developing the Gaza Strip and protecting the Palestinian sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the occupied city of Jerusalem and its walls, the Holy Mosque, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
The Foreign Minister has stressed the importance of safeguarding schools, and historical and religious monuments, strengthening educational facilities, and preserving Palestinian sanctities.
He has suggested that more work needs to be done to enhance the safety of journalists in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), in addition to rejecting excavations, works, and projects in the occupied city of Jerusalem, especially in and around the Old City.
He outrightly condemned the process of constructing roads for the colonists and the destruction of schools, including Abu Nuwar School and Tana School and the plans of destroying Khan Al-Ahmar School.
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Role of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Lastly, Al-Maliki has discussed the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in particular, and the positions of the brotherly and friendly countries that support the unanimous adoption of these decisions.
Jordan has called on the international community and UNESCO to take the necessary urgent steps.
These involve punishing Israel for all its violations that contravene the provisions of UNESCO conventions and resolutions, its actions that deliberately destroy holy places, and its refusal to appoint a permanent representative to the UNESCO.
Nevertheless, he also stressed the need to send an exploratory mission and appoint a permanent representative of the Director-General in the city of Jerusalem as soon as possible.
The mission has to be mandated to investigate the Israeli crimes of deliberately sabotaging the said area, crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and the destruction of UNESCO’s areas of work including schools and universities.
