Decision 42 COM 7A.27

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine) (C 1433)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.42, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Commends the State Party on the implementation of high-standard conservation works which have occurred at the Church of the Nativity;
4. Requests the State Party to submit details of the completed works to mosaics, plaster, architraves, and stone pillars, and proposed future works, including works to a sub-floor mosaic, paintings and stone floors, as well as proposals for the revival of Star Street and its branches, to the World Heritage Centre;
5. Also reiterates its previous request to the State Party to submit a resume and analysis of all evidence revealed during the conservation work in order that there is a better understanding as to whether any material survives from the 6th century AD and, if not, to provide the dates of the surviving fabric;
6. Notes that the ‘Manger Square Tunnel’ project has been postponed and that the ‘Manger Square Village’ has been cancelled and, should the ‘Manger Square Tunnel’ project proceed and also requests the State Party to prepare an independent Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and submit this to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, in line with the requirements of Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before any irreversible commitments are made;
7. Commends the State Party for submitting the draft Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the property in February 2018 and requests that it be revised in accordance with the comments and advice provided by ICOMOS, particularly to incorporate analysis of the values of the property, planned projects and provisions for disaster risk management in particular fire hazards;
8. Also notes that, following finalization of the CMP for the property, it would be appropriate to consider the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
9. Further requests 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;
10. Decides to retain the Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.