U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Concerned About UNESCO Resolutions

"The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed concern about two resolutions recently adopted by a commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

On October 10, 2018, the Programme and External Relations Commission of UNESCO's Executive Board adopted Resolutions 28 and 29 concerning religious sites in the Holy Land. USCIRF appreciates the Commission's efforts to affirm, correctly, that these sites 'are of religious significance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.' At the same time, Resolution 28 describes holy sites in Hebron/al-Khalil and Bethlehem solely as 'Palestinian sites.'

Commissioner Gary Bauer cautioned, 'The idea that there's a question about the Jewish historical presence in the Holy Land and specifically at these sites is unacceptable and diminishes the religious rights of the Jewish people. UNESCO has no business pronouncing on territorial sovereignty or arbitrating territorial disputes.'"