Dubai : The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) voted yesterday (Tuesday) on a resolution that describes Israel as an “occupying power,” and accordingly denies Israel’s sovereignty claims over all of occupied East Jerusalem (Al Quds).
Palestinians welcomed it and said the resolution might not carry an “immediate, practical” impact, but it constitutes a milestone in the legal battle on the international arena to end Israeli occupation.
“For 50 years, Israel kept trying to convince the world that East Jerusalem is its capital and it is not occupied,” said Ghassan Al Khatib, former Palestinian information minister. “Now after 50 years, a big organisation like the Unesco comes out and issues such a resolution. This is very important, and a big blow to Israel,” Khatib, a political scientist, told Gulf News.
The Unesco resolution defines Israel as an occupying power regarding everything pertaining to Jerusalem; it does not recognise Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, and is critical of Israeli archaeological digs in the east of the city and around the Old City, Israeli conduct at the Al Haram Al Ebrahim in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. Unesco also was critical of the situation in Gaza Strip.
Twenty-two countries voted in favour of the resolution, including Russia, China, Iran, Sweden and 7 Arab countries.
Ten voted against, including US, Germany and Britain. Twenty-three abstained and they were mainly European countries and India.
