Contentious UNESCO Resolution on Jerusalem Shelved

"The UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) delayed Tuesday a controversial vote on a draft resolution that would challenge Jewish historical ties to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The vote was postponed minutes before the proceedings began when the Palestinian and Jordanian delegations, which had proposed the resolution, could not secure enough votes to ensure its passage. It is unclear if and when they will propose the resolution again.

Israel has put pressure on UN members to reject the vote, including in a letter Monday by Foreign Ministry chief Dore Gold, and vocal complaints from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a previous UNESCO vote on Jerusalem in April.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon told The Times of Israel that the Jewish state's diplomats had worked hard to reach attain this outcome.

'Israel is constantly working, both directly and through friendly countries, to prevent the resolution's proposal, as well as to ensure a majority is not reached,' he said.

The revised joint Palestinian-Jordanian draft resolution on 'the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls' was submitted to the 21-member committee, which convened for its annual meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 10-20..."