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BREAKING NEWS: UNESCO Chief Briefs SWC Officials Over Arab Move to Control Western Wall

Historic Muslim Jerusalem Publication Sent to UNESCO by SWC at the Request of Director General

Amidst the unprecedented violence in Israel and the international uproar over Arab attempts to have UNESCO identify Jerusalem’s Western Wall – Judaism’s holiest site – asPalestinian, senior officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center had a conference call with UNESCO’s Director General Irina Bokova earlier today where Rabbis Marvin Hier and AbrahamCooper, Dean and Founder and Associate Dean reiterated that:

• This resolution is a redline for the entire world’s Jewish community

• It is an affront to all Jews - left and right, secular and religious - and an attack on Judaism

• If such a resolution would be approved it would certainly increase the violence in Jerusalem and destroy any prospects for peace in the Middle East

• This resolution would damage UNESCO’s core mission of protecting historic and religious sites around the world

• Declaring the Western Wall a Palestinian site would be like “turning over Mount Sinai to ISIS”

Director General Bokova, who earlier expressed her opposition to the resolution, is in the midst of ongoing diplomatic consultations. She emphasized that she is urging memberstates to return to UNESCO’s core mandate.

Center officials also brought to her attention a publication (pictured right - click to enlarge) by the SupremeMuslim Council, which was published annually from 1924 to 1953. Referring to the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount, the document says, “The site is one of theoldest in the world. Its sanctity dates from the earliest (perhaps from pre-historic) times. Its identity with the site of Solomon’s Temple is beyond dispute.”



Photo above: UNESCOHeadquarters, Paris, June 2014 -Director General Bokova at the opening of the SWC's exhibition a "The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People with the HolyLand"

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