Decision 45 COM 7A.39

Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (State of Palestine) (C 1492)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.17 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou /online, 2021),
3. Commends the State Party for its efforts to improve the state of conservation of the property and to implement the corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and in particular the restoration and the preparation of guidelines for the drystone walls and the rehabilitation of the watchtowers;
4. Also commends the State Party for having appointed a Site Manager for the property to work with the Steering and Site Management Committees, and requests the State Party to submit further detailed information on the membership, roles and tasks of these committees to the World Heritage Centre;
5. Encourages the State Party to continue seeking the required funds to undertake the development of a sufficient sewage system as a priority;
6. Encourages the State Party to develop and implement the land-use plan and related bylaws to avoid uncontrolled urban growth within the property and its buffer zone, with the full involvement of the municipalities and local communities;
7. Takes note with concern of the reports of ongoing illegal constructions and other developments within the property and its buffer zone;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit the project documentation for the proposed bus parking lot and visitor interpretation centre to the World Heritage Centre before any final decision is taken and to continue to inform the World Heritage Centre of any proposed plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;
9. Requests furthermore 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;
10. Decides to retain Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.