Ancient City of Jericho Recognized as World Heritage Site in Palestine by UN Committee

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A United Nations assembly passed a resolution on Sunday to designate the historical city of Jericho in the West Bank as a World Heritage Site in Palestine. This move is anticipated to provoke Israel, which governs the area and does not acknowledge the existence of a Palestinian state.

Jericho holds the distinction of being among the oldest continuously occupied cities globally, situated in an Israeli-controlled section of the West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian Authority, which is recognized internationally.

The resolution was adopted during a session of the United Nations World Heritage Committee, convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The committee operates under the guidance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Israel severed its ties with UNESCO in 2019, alleging the organization of harboring a bias against it and undermining its historical ties to sacred sites in the region. Despite its withdrawal, Israel continues to be a signatory to the World Heritage Convention and was represented at the Riyadh meeting by an official delegation.

In the 1967 Middle East conflict, Israel seized control of the West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian leadership aspires to establish a state encompassing these three areas. Israel, however, perceives the West Bank as the spiritual and historical epicenter of the Jewish community.

In the context of a political environment devoid of meaningful peace talks for over a decade, Israel is presently governed by a coalition that is among the most nationalistic and religiously oriented in its history, rendering the prospect of Palestinian statehood highly unlikely.

The contemporary city of Jericho serves as a significant attraction for visitors to the Palestinian territories, owing both to its wealth of historical landmarks and its geographical closeness to the Dead Sea. In 2021, the Palestinian Authority introduced extensive restoration efforts focused on one of the region’s largest mosaics, situated in a Jericho palace that dates back to the 8th century.

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More about UN World Heritage Committee Designates Jericho

• UN World Heritage Committee Official Announcement
• Historical Overview of Jericho
• Israel’s Withdrawal from UNESCO: A Timeline
• The 1967 Middle East Conflict: A Brief History
• Palestinian Authority’s Governance in the West Bank
• Recent Restoration Efforts in Jericho
• Overview of Israel-Palestine Relations
• The State of Peace Talks Between Israel and Palestine