The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted on a resolution that describes Israel as an occupying power denying its sovereignty claims over all of Jerusalem.
The decision avers that Israel occupies the city of Jerusalem and has no right in the Old City. It also stipulates that the cemeteries in al-Khalil city and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem city are Islamic graveyards.
Twenty countries voted in favor of the resolution while 10 opposed and 23 abstained. Each of the United States Italy United Kingdom Netherlands Lithuania Greece Paraguay Ukraine Togo and Germany voted against the resolution.
The decision points to the historical heritage and cultural aspects of Occupied Jerusalem that create bonds among Muslims and Christians in the occupied city.
The resolution stresses the importance to send a UNESCO representative to Occupied Jerusalem in order to monitor Israeli Judaization practices in Jerusalem.
