The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.4 and the Annex attached to this decision,
- Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.28, 43 COM 7A.29, 44 COM 7A.16 and 45 COM 7A.38, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively,
- 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.
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ANNEX |
The World Heritage Committee
46th session of the Committee (46 COM)
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Item 25. Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (State of Palestine) |
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having considered Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A.Add.4,
- 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,
- Taking note of a further-revised draft SOUV contained in the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party,
- 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 finalise the above documents;
- Decides to consider the examination of a draft SOUV for the property at its 47th session;
- 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;
- Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the property, including conservation works at Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/The Tomb of the Patriarchs, restoration of Zahdeh Historic House, adaptive re-use of the Al-Sharabati Building as a community centre, adaptive re-use of historic buildings, and rehabilitation of infrastructure at the Northern Entrance of the Old Town, and as well as for initiatives for socio-economic benefits and awareness-raising for the local community;
- Deplores the ongoing Israeli activities inside the Old City of Al-Khalil/Hebron, including construction of settlements, archaeological excavations, demolition of commercial stores in Al-Hisbeh market and destruction of the arched and domed entrances at the historic bus station, 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 the completion of an electric elevator in Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/The Tomb of the Patriarchs, which proceeded without preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) or notification to the World Heritage Centre in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, and which may affect the authenticity and integrity of the property;
- Recalls the need to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on current conservation and development projects which have potential adverse impact on heritage, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Calls upon all parties to refrain from any action that would cause damage to the heritage values of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value, and to take all possible measures, in line with international law, 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;
- Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session;
- Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (State of Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.