Decision 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.