Israel calls Unesco tomb ruling anti-semitic

Netanyahu leads attacks on culture body for decision that key religious site should be Palestinian

ISRAEL branded Unesco “shameful and anti-semitic” and called for the US to cut its funding after the global heritage organisation passed a propalestinian resolution about the flashpoint city of Hebron. The largest city in the occupied West Bank, Hebron and its ancient quarter is home to a religious site that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims, known as either the Tomb of the Patriarchs or the al-ibrahimi mosque.

Unesco voted yesterday to recognise both the religious site and the Old City around it as Palestinian heritage sites, infuriating Israelis who believe Hebron is the birthplace of the Jewish people. The body voted that the Israeli occupation was endangering the site.

Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli defence minister, released a furious statement after the vote and called for Donald Trump to punish Unesco by cutting its funding. “Unesco is a politically biased, shameful and anti-semitic organisation whose decisions are scandalous, and I hope that with the help of our great friend the United States, the organisation’s budget will be cut off,” he said.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, called the decision “ridiculous” in a video posted on Twitter. “Another ridiculous decision by Unesco. Not a Jewish site? Who is buried there – our fathers and mothers! We will continue to guard the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the freedom of religion for all, and the truth,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu said later that Israel would cut $1million from its dues to the UN and give the money to a museum about the Jewish history of Hebron.

Palestinians celebrated the vote as a diplomatic victory. Hebron has been one of the most fraught areas of the West Bank. It is home to around 200,000 Palestinians but 500 Israeli settlers live in the city, protected by troops. Palestinians living near the settlement are subjected to restrictions on movement and there is regular violence between settlers, soldiers and Palestinians. The 12-3 Unesco vote was the latest in a series of symbolic propalestinian resolutions adopted by UN bodies, which have enraged Israel but have little real-world impact.

Palestine is recognised as a nation state by Unesco, allowing it to appear on an equal footing to Israel. In the UN’S main body it only has observer status, meaning it is not recognised as a fully fledged country.

Israel and the US argue that many of the UN’S bodies are deeply biased against the Jewish state.

Britain criticised the “disproportionate focus on Israel” earlier this year and, in line with the Trump administration, said it would vote against antiisrael resolutions if there was not more balance at the Human Rights Council.

The religious site at the heart of Hebron is believed to house the tomb of Abraham and his family. It is believed to be the oldest continually used house of prayer and the site is split uneasily between Jewish and Muslim worshippers.