That’s the part that angers the UNESCO resolution authors: the fact that this national park integrates all the parts of Jerusalem, east and west, Arab and Jewish, and, worse yet, that it integrates today’s Jewish Jerusalem with its ancient, Jewish past.
That would be reason for concern for most of the countries represented on the committee.
Another thing UNESCO regrets is the Western Wall elevator, which it says “severely” affects “the visual integrity and the authentic character of the site.”
The problem is that the elevator has only been approved by the Israeli government for construction in late May, 2015. At present, the only way for visitors in wheelchairs to reach the Kotel is through the road leading to Dung Gate, which is very steep. The elevator will permit the elderly and the infirm to come up to the Wall plaza with ease. But, of course, this would mean even more Jews visiting the Kotel, which, by any measure, could damage some people’s sense of “visual integrity.”
But it’s all hypothetical! The resolution actually condemns Israel for an obstruction that isn’t yet there—and “requests Israel to restore the original character of the site in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of related UNESCO Conventions and recommendations.”
That means: not so many Jews, please.
Then the UNESCO resolution “further regrets Israeli extremist groups’ continuous incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound.”
It’s not Temple Mount, it’s not Al-Aqsa or Temple Mount, it’s just Al Aqsa. Also, on the wrong side of the 67 line there are no moderate Israelis, only extremists. And they don’t act on their human right, protected by International Law, to exercise their freedom of religion — what they do is continuous incursions.
So UNESCO, naturally, “urges Israel to take necessary measures to prevent such provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound and inflame tension on the ground.”
And there, with the inflamed tensions reference, is the closest the resolution comes to recognize the repeat phenomena of Arabs attacking Jews.
Then, just to make sure everyone is on the same page, the resolution “affirms … the necessity to respect and safeguard the integrity, authenticity and cultural heritage of Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, as reflected in the Status Quo, as a Muslim Holy Site of worship and as an integral part of a World Cultural Heritage site.”
No Jews need apply.