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State of Conservation Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town 2023

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town

State of Palestine
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Absence of Statement of Outstanding Universal Value at the time of inscription

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Absence of Statement of Outstanding Universal Value at the time of inscription
  • Management systems/management plan: Need of a management plan (resolved)
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

The State Party outlined a series of threats in the nomination file, but none were specified by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Draft submitted by the State Party following expert meeting in Paris in December 2018, in accordance with Decision 42 COM 7A.28. Currently under review.

Corrective Measures for the property

Draft submitted by the State Party following expert meeting in Paris in December 2018, in accordance with Decision 42 COM 7A.28. Currently under review.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

Total amount granted: USD 375,400 from the Government of Sweden for physical rehabilitation; USD 30,000 from the World Heritage Fund budget line dedicated to properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 1 (from 2018-2018)
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
2018 Management plan and Conservation Plan for the World ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

N/A

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 31 January 2022 and 30 January 2023, the State Party submitted reports on the state of conservation of the property, which are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1565/documents/, and present the following information:

  • The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Hebron Municipality (HM), and Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) remain committed to safeguarding the OUV of the property;
  • A revised draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV), a proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the related draft corrective measures have been submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
  • Progress has been made towards the elaboration of the Management and Conservation Plan (MCP), within the framework of International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund. A revised draft MCP has been prepared, with local community involvement, following a technical review by ICOMOS;
  • Several cultural activities were also carried out, while significant projects for protecting, conserving, and presenting the OUV of the property include conservation and maintenance of Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs, conservation of historic buildings, rehabilitation of 80 commercial stores, and maintenance and adaptive reuse of abandoned buildings and open spaces, including new uses as a museum and a nursery, as well as Hammam al-Naiem (Turkish Bath);
  • Tangible Cultural Heritage Law (No.11, 2018), prohibits new construction inside the property, and requires Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for major restoration works;
  • According to the reports, the property remains vulnerable due to violations, including acts of vandalism, which affect the property and local community. These comprise more than 700 reported violations in 2021, commencement of works for an electric elevator in Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/ Tomb of Patriarchs and related impacts, demolition of the nearby Hosh Al-Shareef and Qafisheh as well as seven commercial stores in Al-Hisba market, new construction, in addition to the prevention of conservation work, and an attack on the visitor centre.

In addition, UNESCO received several letters from the State Party and from the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, expressing deep concern about potential threats to the property and the above-mentioned activities, including reported illegal excavations, the construction of the electric elevator, the prevention of conservation work and demolition of commercial stores in Al-Hisba market. The Secretariat followed up with Israel, requesting the relevant information. A reply has not been received yet.

The State Party considers that the property should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

The State Party has submitted to the World Heritage Centre a revised draft SOUV, prepared in accordance with the process adopted through Decision 42 COM 7A.28. The State Party has also submitted a finalised version of the MCP, which has been subject to a technical review by ICOMOS. The adoption of the SOUV by the Committee is required for the finalisation and consideration of the draft DSOCR and draft corrective measures. The SOUV is also a fundamental foundation for the MCP, which should be adjusted once the SOUV is adopted and the DSOCR is finalised, as recommended in the ICOMOS technical review. Nevertheless, the ICOMOS technical review acknowledges that the MCP is a robust document that sets out the management system and structure for the property and concludes that it could be adopted pending finalization of the SOUV and DSOCR.

The efforts of the State Party to undertake activities for the conservation and management of the property, and for socio-economic benefits for the local community, are welcome and should be encouraged.

The Tangible Cultural Heritage Law and requirements for HIAs and EIAs for major restoration projects have previously been commended by the Committee. The scale and extent of activities, and in particular the reported commencement of work related to the planned electric elevator at Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of Patriarchs represent potential threats to the OUV of the property. In accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, comprehensive details of any significant conservation and development project should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse. In the meantime, works on this project should not proceed.

All parties should continue to avoid any action that would cause damage to the property and its OUV and all possible measures should be taken to protect the property, in particular to refrain from physical damage, prevention of conservation projects, and inappropriate new development projects within the property and its buffer zone.

It is recommended that the property remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7A.38
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (State of Palestine) (C 1565)
Decision: 45 COM 7A.38

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.28, 43 COM 7A.29 and 44 COM 7A.16 adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions respectively,
  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 World Heritage Committee.

ANNEX

 

The World Heritage Committee

Extended 45th session of the Committee (45 COM)

  1. Having considered Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4,
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1 adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (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 revised draft SOUV contained in the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party,
  4. Takes note of the consultations held between experts from UNESCO, the State Party and the Advisory Bodies, as well as the ongoing exchanges, with regard to the revised draft SOUV, the draft Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the related corrective measures, and invites the State Party to continue its efforts to finalize the above documents;
  5. Decides to consider the examination of a draft SOUV for the property at its 46th session;
  6. Also takes note of the Management and Conservation Plan (MCP) for the property and requests that once the SOUV for the property is adopted and the DSOCR is finalised, the MCP be amended in collaboration with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies;
  7. Deplores the ongoing Israeli excavations, works, construction of private roads for settlers and of a Wall inside the Old City of Al-Khalil/Hebron which are illegal under international law and harmfully affect the authenticity and integrity of the site, and the subsequent denial of freedom of movement and freedom of access to places of worship, and asks Israel, the Occupying Power, to end all violations which are not in conformity with the provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions, and further takes note with concern of reports of works related to the electric elevator;
  8. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the property;
  9. 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. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  11. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
45 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
  2. Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 45 COM 7A.51)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
  • Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
3.    Recalls that the following properties were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 18th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2023):
  • Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
  • Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
  • Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
Read more
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.38

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.28, 43 COM 7A.29 and 44 COM 7A.16, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/Online, 2021) sessions respectively,
  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 World Heritage Committee.

 ---

ANNEX

 

The World Heritage Committee

Extended 45th session of the Committee (45 COM)

  1. Having considered Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4,
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (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 revised draft SOUV contained in the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party,
  4. Takes note of the consultations held between experts from UNESCO, the State Party and the Advisory Bodies, as well as the ongoing exchanges, with regard to the revised draft SOUV, the draft Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the related corrective measures, and invites the State Party to continue its efforts to finalize the above documents;
  5. Decides to consider the examination of a draft SOUV for the property at its 46th session;
  6. Also takes note of the Management and Conservation Plan (MCP) for the property and requests that once the SOUV for the property is adopted and the DSOCR is finalised, the MCP be amended in collaboration with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies;
  7. Deplores the ongoing Israeli excavations, works, construction of private roads for settlers and of a Wall inside the Old City of Al-Khalil/Hebron which are illegal under international law and harmfully affect the authenticity and integrity of the site, and the subsequent denial of freedom of movement and freedom of access to places of worship, and asks Israel, the Occupying Power, to end all violations which are not in conformity with the provisions of relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions, and further takes note with concern of reports of works related to the electric elevator;
  8. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the property;
  9. 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. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  11. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2021
Report year: 2023
State of Palestine
Date of Inscription: 2017
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List (dates): 2017-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2023) .pdf
Report (2022) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2022
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
Exports
Previous 2021

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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