Decision 38 COM 7A.4

Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (C 148 rev)

I

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling the relevant provisions on the protection of cultural heritage including the four Geneva Conventions (1949), the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954 and its related protocols, the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972, the Delhi UN ESCO Recommendation of 1956 concerning excavations undertaken in occupied territories, the inscription of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls at the request of Jordan on the World Heritage List (1981) and on the List of World Heritage in Danger (1982) and related recommendations, resolutions and decisions of UNESCO,
3. Reaffirming that nothing in the present decision, which aims at the safeguarding of the authenticity, integrity and cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem on both sides of its Walls, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem,
4. Deeply concerned by the persistence of the Israeli illegal excavations and works conducted by settler groups in the Old City of Jerusalem and on both sides of its Walls and the failure of Israel to cease such harmful interventions, requests Israel to timely stop all such violations, in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of related UNESCO Conventions and recommendations,
5. Regrets the damaging effect of the Jerusalem Light rail (tram line) at few meters from the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem as well as the construction of the so called “City of David National Park” in Silwan at a distance of twenty meters from the Walls of the Old City, the so called “Liba House” project, the extension of the Strauss Building and the Western Wall elevator, which severely affect the visual integrity and the authentic character of the site and requests Israel to restore the original character of the site in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of related UNESCO Conventions and recommendations;
6. Also concerned by Israel plan to build a two-line cable car system to connect the Mughrabi Quarter with the Mount of Olives in the Palestinian East Jerusalem, and also urges Israel to prevent any damage to the integrity and authenticity of the property by abandoning the above mentioned project in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of related UNESCO Conventions and recommendations;
7. Expresses its concern regarding the restricting obstacles imposed by Israel on the freedom of access that shall be provided to the competent national authorities including the Jordanian Waqf experts to safeguard the Old City of Jerusalem and both sides of its Walls;
8. Further regrets Israeli extremist groups' continuous incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound and urges Israel to take necessary measures to prevent such provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound and inflame tension on the ground;
9. Also regrets the damage by Israel in 2013 of the historic ceramics atop of the main gates of the Dome of the Rock and the damage of the historic gates and windows of the Qibli Mosque inside al-Aqsa Compound and affirms, in this regard, the necessity to respect and safeguard the integrity, authenticity and cultural heritage of Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, as reflected in the Status Quo, as a Muslim Holy Site of worship and as an integral part of a World Cultural Heritage site;
10. Requests the World Heritage Centre to continue applying the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to the Old City of Jerusalem on both sides of its Walls, and also requests it to report every four months on this matter;
11. Thanks the international donors for their generous contributions to UNESCO projects for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem on both sides of its Walls, and calls upon the international donor community to further support, through extra-budgetary funding, activities aimed at the safeguarding of the integrity and authenticity of the Old City of Jerusalem and both sides of its walls;
12. Also thanks the Director-General of UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre for their efforts aimed at the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem on both sides of its walls and invites them to report on this matter at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015;

II

13. Recalling 176 EX/Special Plenary Meeting Decision, and all UNESCO Executive Board Decisions relating to the Ascent to the Mughrabi Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem,
14. Taking into consideration the 13th and all previous Reinforced Monitoring Reports and their addenda prepared by the World Heritage Centre as well as the State of Conservation report submitted to the World Heritage Centre by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Palestine,  
15. Acknowledges receipt of the Jordanian design for the restoration and preservation of the Mughrabi Ascent, submitted to the World Heritage Centre on 27 May 2011, and thanks Jordan for its cooperation in accordance with the provisions of the relevant UNESCO Conventions for the Protection of Cultural Heritage;
16. Expresses its concern regarding the Israeli submission and content of its plan for the Mughrabi Ascent, and requests that the World Heritage Centre consider the design submitted by Jordan;
17. Also expresses its concern regarding the continuous, intrusive demolitions and illegal excavations in and around the Mughrabi Gate Ascent, and calls on Israel to end such violations, respect the Status Quo, and enable the Jordanian Waqf experts as a part of the competent authorities to maintain and safeguard the site in accordance with the relevant provisions of the UNESCO Conventions and Recommendations in particular the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954;
18. Thanks the Director-General for her attention to the sensitive situation in the Ascent and calls upon her to maintain her efforts in a view to implement all related UNESCO resolutions and decisions;

III

19. Recalling the Executive Board decisions 191 EX/Decision 9, 192 EX/Decision 42, 194 EX/Decision5(D) and the World Heritage Committee decisions 37Com/7A.23 and 34 COM/7A.20,
20. Decides to implement paragraph 11 of decision 34 COM 7A.20 adopted by the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia at its 34th session as follows:

• a) Phase I: the dispatch, as soon as possible, of the joint World Heritage Centre/ICCROM/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls to assess, as a first phase, the 18 sites included in the Action Plan as pilot sites,

 

• b) Phase II: the dispatch of the joint World Heritage Centre/ICCROM/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, to assess, as second phase, the major monumental complexes designated in the Action Plan (i.e. the Haram-es-Sharif, the Citadel, the Western Wall, the Holy Sepulcher and the City walls) ; 

21. Requests that the report and recommendations of the mission be presented to the concerned parties before the next 195 EX Board session;
22. Takes note of the technical adjournment of the five Middle East items on the agenda of its 194th session and their inclusion on the agenda of its 195th session;
23. Invites all concerned parties to facilitate the implementation of the above-mentioned UNESCO joint mission;
24. Thanks the Director-General for her continuous efforts to implement the above-mentioned UNESCO joint mission and all related UNESCO decisions and resolutions, and invites her to report on this matter at the next 39th World Heritage Committee session;

IV

25. Decides to retain the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger.