UNESCO classifies ancient Jericho as ‘Palestinian heritage site’
Israel MFA: ‘Decision another sign of the Palestinians’ cynical use of UNESCO and the politicization of the organization.’
The Heritage Committee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on Sunday that one of the newest entries on the organization’s list of global heritage sites is Tel a-Sultan in Jericho.
The UNESCO member states decided that the tel will be considered a “Palestinian world heritage site.” The decision was made in a vote that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The UN clarified that there are Jewish and Christian sites near the site that are not included in the list – but there is a value to protect them.
Tel a-Sultan, also known as Tel Jericho, is the central tel in the city. It sits at 21 meters above its surroundings and is 40 dunams wide. It includes many archaeological findings, including the round tower of Jericho, which is 8.50 meters wide, and what remains of it is 7.70 meters tall. The first settlement of the tel is estimated to be in 9500 BCE. Read More …
Opinion: Both the US and Israel formally exited UNESCO in 2019, the second time the US had departed after the Reagan administration withdrew in 1984 over UNESCO’s financial mismanagement and alleged Soviet influence over the organization.
President George W. Bush then rejoined UNESCO in 2003 – Donald Trump left UNESCO in 2017 – Joe Biden rejoined UNESCO July 2023.
Two interesting points from the article:
Interesting how the first tel, a mound consisting of the accumulated and stratified debris of a succession of consecutive settlements, is estimated to be 9500 years old when the Bible dates the creation of the world as 6000 years old.
Interesting that Jericho is now considered a Palestinian city since
- there is no such thing as a Palestinian and
- there were scant signs of Arabs living in Israel until the Jews started returning in 1891 creating employment and
- the Arabs, descendants of Esau (Edom), have returned to take back Esau’s squandered birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) to fulfill prophecy Malachi 1:4-5
“Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,”
Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“They may build, but I will throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.”