In the Holy Land, UNESCO is more than just a culture club – CIDSE

In the Holy Land, UNESCO is more than just a culture club

Today (31 October 2011), during its General Conference, UNESCO will vote on Palestine’s application to join the UN’s education, science and culture body.

It may appear a less interesting spin-off of the recent UN membership bid, but there is more at stake than simply another move on the diplomatic chessboard. While EU Member States in UNESCO’s executive committee did not have a common position in the first-round vote, united EU backing of this move in the plenary would show tangible support for a two-State solution. The EU needs to stand behind the Palestinian right to self-determination, which it has recognised for over 30 years.

UNESCO membership could be a first step towards independent, equal Palestinian participation in the UN system. Although having limited effect on the ground, full acceptance into international bodies will give Palestinians more options to protect their rights and interests internationally. Concretely, UNESCO membership would allow Palestine to sign a range of treaties on preservation of cultural sites – no small matter considering the significance of the region’s heritage.

The occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) is home to several potential UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like the 10 000 year-old city of Jericho, or the Nativity Church in Bethlehem marking the birthplace of Jesus, for instance. Previous Palestinian attempts to officially designate these sites did not succeed, as UNESCO did not consider Palestine a State. This could change with the upcoming vote.

UNESCO-protected status has no effect on territorial claims or worshippers’ access. On the contrary, Abrahamic sites have been a pretext for Israeli de facto annexation and settlement in the OPT, contrary to international law and at the expense of the Palestinian population. The Wall built on Palestinian land to ensure Israeli access to Rachel’s Tomb, as well as harsh policies enforced to protect settlements near Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs, are two prominent examples.

Designation of World Heritage Sites would not only give access to preservation funds – it could provide a much-needed boost to the embattled Palestinian tourism industry. Tourism should be a valuable resource for Palestinian development, but is restricted by occupation measures. In addition, various OPT tourist sites are developed and controlled by Israel. Promotion of tourism to illegal West Bank settlements is growing, fueled by Israeli government investment. It is therefore unsurprising that 97% of revenue from West Bank tourism goes into the Israeli economy, according to the Palestinian Alternative Tourism Group.

Israeli exploitation of tourist sites stands in contrast to its responsibility to act only as administrator and guardian of the public property of the territory it occupies. It also interferes with Palestinians’ right to use their natural resources for their own benefit. Development of Israeli tourism also bears more concrete consequences for Palestinians. For example, 22 East Jerusalem homes have been threatened with demolition to make way for an archaeological park run by Israeli settlers.

The 2002 siege of Bethlehem’s Nativity Church also underlined the need for physical protection of cultural heritage from conflict. If Palestine, as a UNESCO member, could sign the Hague Convention on Cultural Property, the issue would be clearly framed by international humanitarian law, which is too often sidelined in the Israeli-Palestinian context. Israel’s responsibility as occupying power regarding cultural property would be clarified, as would the duty of all parties to protect it in case of hostilities.

In short, Palestinian UNESCO membership would help to protect the region’s cultural patrimony by making responsibilities of all parties clear. It would also allow Palestinians to address related issues on an equal basis. While the importance of ancient sites pales in comparison to that of human lives and rights, it should not be forgotten that cultural heritage could one day be an asset in breaking aid dependency and allowing Palestinians to realise dignified lives through sharing their area’s history with the world. Given US opposition to Palestinian UN membership and the bleak short-term prospects for peace talks, initiatives such as this will also keep Palestinian self-determination in the spotlight. It also gives EU countries, which have invested heavily in Palestinian development through aid, the opportunity to demonstrate a joint vision for a Palestinian State alongside Israel.

Deborah Casalin, Policy and Advocacy Officer, CIDSE Working Group Palestine-Israel

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