After routinely declining them access to the Holy City, Israel has agreed to allow UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) experts to assess the state of the “cultural heritage” of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, which it lists as “endangered” World Heritage sites.
Israeli authorities have continuously refused to have an investigative committee from the UN body visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, citing fears of bias toward the Palestinians. But on Tuesday [April 23] Israelis approved the move after Palestinians agreed to postpone five resolutions they were due to present to UNESCO’s executive board in Paris. The resolutions would have condemned Israel for its ongoing occupation and for endangering the holy sites and Arab character of east Jerusalem.
