Amman, July 24 (Petra)– The Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs
has welcomed the decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to
retain the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the List of World
Heritage in Danger, describing the move as a renewed commitment by
the international community to safeguarding the city’s cultural and
human heritage.

The committee said the decision reaffirms international recognition
of the serious threats facing Jerusalem’s historic and cultural
identity as a result of ongoing Israeli occupation policies and
measures.

Secretary-General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs,
Abdullah Kanaan, said the decision reflects the reality that the
challenges facing the Old City extend beyond the preservation of
archaeological sites and historic landmarks, amounting instead to a
systematic targeting of Jerusalem’s cultural, religious and
civilizational identity.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Kanaan said such actions
violate international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for
the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,
the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949.

He stressed that the continued listing of the Old City of Jerusalem
as a World Heritage site in danger places greater responsibility on
the international community, particularly UNESCO, to closely monitor
conditions in the city, document violations affecting its historical
and religious landmarks, and prevent unilateral measures aimed at
altering its character or erasing its authentic cultural heritage.

Kanaan added that successive international resolutions on Jerusalem,
including those adopted by UNESCO, affirm the illegality of all
measures taken by the Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied
city. He emphasized that preserving Jerusalem’s heritage goes beyond
protecting monuments and archaeological sites to include safeguarding
its historical and cultural identity, as well as its Arab, Islamic
and Christian human presence.

He also praised member states that supported retaining the Old City
and its Walls on the endangered heritage list, calling for the
decision to be translated into concrete actions that strengthen
protection of the city and its holy sites, ensure respect for
international resolutions, and halt violations threatening its unique
historical and spiritual significance.

The Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs reaffirmed that the
Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in
Jerusalem, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein,
remains a cornerstone in preserving the city’s identity, protecting
its holy places and cultural heritage, and confronting attempts to
alter its historical and legal status in line with international
legitimacy and relevant United Nations resolutions.

//Petra// MF