Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls

• Description
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• Gallery
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• Threats
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Threats to the Site (1982)

The situation of Jerusalem is an exceptional one in that there is no general political agreement as to the status of the city, certain states declaring that they abided by the situation defined in the 1947 United Nations partition plan which considered Jerusalem as a corpus separatum located neither in Israel, nor in Jordan.

The site of Jerusalem was nominated in 1981 by Jordan, it being agreed at the time that inscription should in no way be regarded as a means for registering political or sovereignty claims by any State. Its subsequent inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1982 was a recognition by the Committee of the danger to religious properties, threats of destruction following uncontrolled urban development and of the general deterioration of the state of conservation of the city's monuments due to the disastrous impact of tourism and to lack of maintenance.

The safeguarding of the monumental, religious and cultural heritage of the Holy City of Jerusalem has been one of UNESCO's main concerns since 1967. To this end, the Executive Board and the General Conference have repeatedly requested the application of internationally recognised principles, especially the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (the Hague, 1954), the 1956 New Delhi Recommendation on International Principles Applicable to Archaeological Excavations and the 1972 World Heritage Convention. In conformity with UNESCO's resolutions, financial aid for heritage restoration projects in Jerusalem has been requested from Member States. Favourable responses to these appeals have enabled UNESCO to finance the restoration and conservation of a number of monuments and religious and cultural properties in this city.

History - List in Danger

• 1982