Press release: UNESCO votes Palestinian Church of Nativity Church a World Site Heritage

UNESCO votes Palestinian Church of Nativity a World Heritage Site.This marks a turning point in the international campaign for Palestinian statehood and sovereignty over the occupied territories. Today’s UNESCO vote to recognise the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territories is a progressive step in recognising the rights and heritage of Palestine. The committee voted 13 to six votes to add the Church of the Nativity and its pilgrimage route to the prestigious UNESCO world heritage list which was received with a round of rousing applause and celebrations by the head of the Palestinian delegation.

Ambassador Hassassian of the Palestinian Mission UK stated “The recent news of UNESCO granting the Nativity Church World Heritage status marks a victory in the Palestinians struggle for international recognition for its historical and cultural heritage as part of the Palestinian identity. Despite the US’s withdrawal of funding to UNESCO following last year’s decision to grant membership to Palestine, the majority vote in favour of the inscribing the church to the list demonstrates overwhelming international support and acknowledgementof the cultural, historical, religious, political and territorial integrity of Palestine. What is more important is that now Bethlehem’s sites are internationally recognised as Palestinian. We believe that this is a step in the direction of providing historical justice to the Palestinian people, its holy places and historical landmarks.”