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Summer 2017
DEFENDERS
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Criminal Court with regard to Israel’s
crimes in the occupied Palestinian
territories as of June 13, 2014 and based
on Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute.
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Recognition of the Palestinian state
by UNESCO was the beginning of
support for this country in various
fields of education, culture and cultural
heritage. Measures taken by UNESCO
in this regard included reconstruction of
religious and historical sites damaged
by the occupation forces, as well
as establishment of various schools
and educational centers to educate
Palestinian children and young adults.
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Another impact of that recognition
was its international impact, because
it demonstrated performance of
various member states of UNESCO on
international level. When an entity is recognized as a state, one component
of that recognition is the ability of that entity to establish relations with other
states and international institutions.
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It must be noted that recognition of a state
is actually tantamount to introduction of that state into international scene by
other states and, in practice, it can signal the beginning of diplomatic relations
and conclusion of international agreements with that state. Therefore, such
steps are effective in helping realize the goals of the Palestinian nation and
lending support to their rights.
Section III: UNESCO’s approach to Israel
In its various statements and sessions, UNESCO has frequently declared
Palestine as an occupied land and Israel as the occupier, and has condemned
Israel. For example, during the 201st meeting of the organization’s board,
Sudan, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Algeria drew up a
document titled “the occupied Palestine” in which Israel was introduced as an
“occupying force” and the document passed the vote.
The document noted that al-Quds was a sacred city for Muslims, Christians
and Jews alike, calling on “Israeli occupying authorities” to stop “persistent
excavations, tunneling, works and projects in East Jerusalem (al-Quds),
particularly in and around the Old City.”
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UNESCO also described suchmeasures by Israel as “illegal under international
law,” reiterating its request to Israel, as the occupying Power, to prohibit all
violations, which are not in conformity with the provisions of the relevant
UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions.
Israel has time and again reacted to such international documents by
Various UNESCO documents
have that al-Quds was a sacred
city for Muslims, Christians
and Jews alike, calling on
“Israeli occupying authorities”
to stop “persistent excavations,
tunneling, works and projects
in East Jerusalem (al-Quds),
particularly in and around the
Old City.”