The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, applauded the statement made by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova that, “The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities have a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city. To deny or conceal any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription in 1981 as a World Heritage site”. The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO is due to vote on a joint Palestinian-Jordanian resolution which denies the Jewish people’s historical ties to the old city of Jerusalem.
Dr. Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“We are very pleased that Director-General Bokova has made clear her opposition to this inflammatory and shameful effort. We urge all committee representatives and their governments to realise that such resolutions will only damage UNESCO’s standing and will significantly harm the prospects of a peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. The status and integrity of Jerusalem as a sacred city to the three faiths must be protected and any attempt to further deepen divisions in city must be renounced. UNESCO must harness its efforts and energies to foster respect, trust and dialogue in the region. Erasing Judaism’s 3000 year religious and historical ties to the city is not the way to achieve these goals. we hope that such unacceptable anti-Israel resolutions do not appear again on UNESCO’s agenda.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677