UNESCO retains Jerusalem heritage site on danger list
World Heritage Committee says conservation conditions remain unmet, keeping Jerusalem's Old City under enhanced international monitoring and protection
PARIS (MNTV) — UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has decided to keep Jerusalem’s Old City and its Walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger, concluding that the conditions required for the site’s removal from the list have yet to be fulfilled.
The decision was adopted during the committee’s 48th session in Busan, South Korea.
UNESCO said the continued designation reflects the need for stronger conservation measures, closer international cooperation and sustained monitoring to safeguard the site’s Outstanding Universal Value.
According to UNESCO, sites are placed on the danger list when they face serious threats that could undermine the cultural or historical characteristics for which they were inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The organization emphasized that the designation is intended to mobilize international support and encourage corrective action rather than serve as a punitive measure.
The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 because of their exceptional historical, cultural and religious significance. A year later, the site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Jordan welcomed the committee’s unanimous decision, saying it reflected continuing concerns over measures affecting the cultural heritage of Jerusalem’s Old City and the preservation of the site’s historic status.
UNESCO said the danger listing helps draw international attention to threats facing heritage sites, facilitates conservation efforts and enables access to technical and financial assistance through the World Heritage Fund where appropriate.
Since the site’s inclusion on the danger list, UNESCO has supported several preservation initiatives, including the restoration of the Church of Saint John Prodromos, training for specialists at the Islamic Manuscripts Restoration Centre at Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and the rehabilitation of the Islamic Museum at Al-Haram Al-Sharif through internationally funded conservation projects.
Wasfi Al-Kilani, Executive Director of the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, said the committee’s decision has remained largely unchanged in recent years but continues to hold significance because it reaffirms the site’s international heritage status and the need for ongoing protection.
Researchers and heritage experts said Jerusalem continues to face conservation challenges, urging stronger international efforts to preserve the city’s historic and cultural character while supporting measures aimed at protecting its globally recognized heritage.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
