UNESCO puts Hebron on endangered heritage list

Warsaw : UNESCO yesterday declared the Old City of Hebron an endangered world heritage site, sparking outrage from Israel in a new spat with the Palestinians at the international body.

The UN’s cultural arm voted 12 to three -- with six abstentions -- to give heritage status to Hebron’s Old City in the occupied West Bank, which is home to more than 200,000 Palestinians and a few hundred Israeli settlers.

“Just inscribed on @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List & World Heritage in Danger List: Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town,” the organisation said on its official Twitter feed. 

Brought by the Palestinians, the resolution declared Hebron’s Old City to be an area of outstanding universal value.

The resolution was fast-tracked on the basis that the site was under threat, with the Palestinians accusing Israel of an “alarming” number of violations, including vandalism and damage to property. 

Hebron claims to be one of the oldest cities in the world, with its origins dating back to the Chalcolithic period -- more than 3,000 years BC.

At various times it has been conquered by Romans, Jews, Crusaders and Mamluks.

Known to Muslims as the Ibrahami Mosque and to Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the landmark is venerated in both religions as the gravesite of the biblical patriarch Abraham, his son Isaac and grandson Jacob. 

It is one of the most important religious sites to Muslims and Jews alike.