Decision 42 COM 7A.28

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) (C 1565)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having considered Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add2 and the annex attached to this decision,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Decides that the status of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town relating to the World Heritage List remains unchanged as reflected in Decision 41 COM 8B.1 of the last World Heritage Committee.

ANNEX

The World Heritage Committee

42nd session of the Committee (42 COM)

1. Having considered Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2;
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a SOUV, and noting that in compliance with Paragraph 154 of the Operational Guidelines, when deciding to inscribe a property on the World Heritage List, guided by the Advisory Bodies, the Committee adopts a SOUV for the property,
3. Taking note of a preliminary proposed SOUV contained in the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party,
4. Requests the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to work with the State Party in the framework of the International Assistance project on the Management Plan to finalize this SOUV;
5. Notes that a proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) was submitted by the State Party, as none was adopted at the 41st session, also notes that no ICOMOS field visit to the property was possible before inscription, and, as the current situation still does not permit any missions, proposes that a meeting be organized for representatives of the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to discuss with the State Party the proposed SOUV, the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), related corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation;
6. Decides to consider the examination of a draft SOUV for the property at its 43rd session in 2019;
7. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the Property;
8. Welcomes efforts to begin the preparation of a Management Plan, and requests the State Party to work in close coordination with the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Advisory Bodies in the implementation of the International Assistance Request regarding the preparatory studies for the elaboration of a Management Plan for the property;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on current conservation and development projects, particularly projects which have potential adverse impact on heritage, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019;
11. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.