Decision 46 COM 7A.26

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/24/46.COM/7A.Add.4,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.39 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
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 encourages the State Party to pursue its efforts in seeking the required funds to undertake the development of a suitable sewage system, as a matter of priority;
4. Also commends the State Party for having established the terms of reference of the Steering and Site Management Committees, and defined the site manager’s responsibility for overseeing and monitoring the implementation of activities of the Management and Conservation Plan and the achievement of its objectives;
5. Also encourages the State Party to pursue the endorsement and implementation of 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;
6. Welcomes the project to "Support sustainable tourism through safeguarding, rehabilitation and promotion of the agro-cultural landscape of Battir", which aims at promoting agro-cultural tourism as a driver for economic and social development, while safeguarding and promoting the property;
7. Takes note with concern of the reports of ongoing illegal constructions, settlements and other developments within the property and its buffer zone, and asks all parties to avoid any action that would cause damage to the property;
8. Requests the State party to transmit to the World Heritage Centre documentation for the interpretation centre and bus parking project once available 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;
9. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February2025, 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;
10. Decides to retain Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (State of Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.