Posted on 06/12/2012 4:30:36 PM PDT by SJackson
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has nominated the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage route in Bethlehem for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage List—which would classify them as under urgent danger and worthy of special protection from the United Nations—despite evidence that those sites do not face such danger.
In advance of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, from June 24-July 6, the PLO has argued that the “Israeli occupation” has hampered “the supply of appropriate materials” and created an “emergency situation” at the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage route
However, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which consults with UNESCO on the heritage list, has said the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage route do not meet the conditions for inclusion on the list because they are not “severely damaged” or “under imminent threat.”
ICOMOS noted that Israeli military authorities conducted the last repairs to the church, to its roof in 1990, and asked that the Palestinian Authority to “resubmit the nomination in accordance with normal procedures for nomination.”
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Rejected on the urgent danger claim. There's no question that Bethelhem is under the control of the PLO/PA. Should they get a state, the danger might well become more urgent, but the palestinians won't be raising it.
I would think "special protection by the United Nations", but, on second thought, maybe not.
Wasn’t it about 6 years ago that the “Religion of Peace” members in Nazareth tried to take over the land around the Church of the Annunciation? They seemed to think they could take over the shrine entirely.
As for the Church of the Nativity, the worst event to the shrine over the past decade was when radical Muslim terrorists took over the church, and while occupying it desecrated it.
To build a giant mosque next door if I recall.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.