The decision to include the West Bank Site and the Lebanese castles on the World Heritage list was made on Friday during a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in South Korea. This deliberation occurred days after the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the committee to reject the classification proposals for Sebastia, a small town in the West Bank, and the Lebanese castles.
Decision in Busan
During the meeting in Busan, UNESCO committee members opted to register Sebastia and the five castles in the Mount Amal area on both the World Heritage list and the World Heritage in Danger list. This choice was made after analyzing the urgent applications, considering the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
About Sebastia
Sebastia, located northwest of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is recognized by scholars as ancient Samaria, which served as the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. Archaeological findings in the region cover periods from the Iron Age through the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras. The Palestinian delegation first submitted the application for Sebastia to UNESCO in 2012, arguing that World Heritage status would be crucial for the site's preservation.
UNESCO justified its concern by stating that 'the integrity of the site is currently threatened by an expropriation project aimed at dividing the property and creating the 'Samaria' National Park.' Furthermore, the organization noted that due to threats related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and development pressures, the site's integrity could be considered extremely vulnerable.
The Mount Amal Castles
The five castles in the Mount Amal region are valued for their rich architectural heritage, reflecting diverse cultural influences. Among the designated sites is the Beaufort Castle, built by the Crusaders and also known as Al-Shaqif, which was taken by Israeli forces in May. UNESCO explained that the 'constituent elements' of these 12th-century fortifications 'have suffered damage' and face 'threats serious enough to warrant recourse to an emergency procedure.'
Statements and Controversies
Adel Naim Daoud Atieh, a member of the Palestinian delegation to UNESCO, stated that the World Heritage designation serves as recognition of the persistence of Sebastia's residents, who have managed to protect this notable place for generations, despite occupation, restrictions, and repeated attempts to separate them from their heritage.
In contrast, Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, alleging the organization's bias against the country and the minimization of its historical ties to the Holy Land. A representative of the Israeli delegation, present in Busan as an observer, cited the Associated Press (AP) to say that it was 'a pity that politicization had ruined UNESCO and led to the ridicule of history.'
In a note issued on Tuesday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Palestinian delegation of conducting a 'hostile and unilateral campaign' at UNESCO by falsely presenting Sebastia as an emergency area, characterizing this action as a political maneuver to 'erase the deep and well-documented Jewish and Christian history of the site.' The ministry also opposed the inclusion of the Beaufort Castle on the list, within the application covering the five Mount Amal castles.
Israel alleged that Hezbollah, with Iranian support, converted the castle into a military base, building tunnels beneath it and firing rockets from the area, accusing UNESCO of ignoring such events. When questioned about these Israeli accusations, UNESCO informed the Associated Press that all applications are evaluated following the same criteria, procedures, and technical requirements, and that the organization does not take sides in political disputes.
