‘Weaponization of cultural heritage’: Israel accuses PA of exploiting UNESCO in bid for Sebastia

Israel has accused the Palestinian Authority of "weaponizing cultural heritage" through its lobbying efforts to have the ancient site of Sebastia recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Foreign Ministry stated that the PA's initiative, ahead of a debate in South Korea, is politically motivated and poses a threat to the archaeological ruins.

Sebastia, historically known as Samaria and the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, boasts a history spanning at least 3,000 years. The site holds significant importance in Jewish history, with structures rebuilt by Herod the Great that have endured through various eras of rule. The Palestinian Authority has been pushing for its inclusion on the World Heritage list since 2012.

Israel contends that the PA's record of neglect and complicity has led to rampant vandalism and theft at the site. The Foreign Ministry pointed to the PA's paving of a road through the site in 2023, which resulted in the destruction of a Herodian-era wall and the looting of burial caves. The ministry further asserted that the PA's attempt to portray Sebastia as facing an emergency is unsupported by professional evaluation and serves as a political tool to erase its Jewish and Christian history.

While the Institute for Palestine Studies' PalQuest encyclopedia acknowledges that the PA has not prioritized heritage protection or legislation, it also blames Israel for the poor maintenance of archaeological sites across the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Authority's push for World Heritage status for Sebastia highlights ongoing tensions over the control and preservation of historical and cultural sites in the region.

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The Palestinian delegation continues to exploit UNESCO to advance a hostile, one-sided campaign, specifically through its initiative concerning Sebastia, ancient Samaria. Sebastia is the historic, biblical capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. The attempt to portray the site as facing an emergency is entirely unsupported by professional evaluation, and serves only as a political tool to erase the site’s profound, well-documented Jewish and Christian history… This cynical weaponization of cultural heritage undermines the very credibility of the World Heritage Convention.