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State of Conservation Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town 2019

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town

State of Palestine
Factors affecting the property in 2019*
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Absence of Statement of Outstanding Universal Value at the time of inscription

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

The State Party outlined a series of threats in the nomination file, but none were specified by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Draft submitted by the State Party following expert meeting in Paris in December 2018, in accordance with Decision 42 COM 7A.28

Corrective Measures for the property

Draft submitted by the State Party following expert meeting in Paris in December 2018, in accordance with Decision 42 COM 7A.28

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2019

Total amount granted: USD 375,400 from the Government of Sweden for physical rehabilitation

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2019
Requests approved: 1 (from 2018-2018)
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
2018 Management plan and Conservation Plan for the World ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2019**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2019

In January 2019, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1565/documents/. Progress in addressing a number of conservation issues identified by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented in the report, as follows:

  • The World Heritage Centre organized a meeting in Paris in December 2018 to discuss the proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and related corrective measures, as well as the proposed Management and Conservation Plan for the property. Participants comprised experts from the ICOMOS, ICCROM, the State Party, the UNESCO Ramallah field office, and the World Heritage Centre. The State Party report includes a draft Statement of OUV, draft DSOCR and draft corrective measures;
  • The preparation of the Management and Conservation Plan is being funded under International Assistance (IA). It will be carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, through a contract with the UNESCO Ramallah Office;
  • The State Party has endorsed the Tangible Cultural Heritage Law, which prevents new construction inside the property, and requires Heritage Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for major conservation projects;
  • The State Party has implemented projects to rehabilitate historic buildings and improve living conditions, supported by various funding sources. Conservation works have also been undertaken at Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi /Tomb of Patriarchs;
  • The report highlights the impacts of vandalism, property damage and other incidents, noting that 800 such matters were reported in 2018;
  • Concern has been expressed at development projects planned by the Occupying Power, which may adversely “impact the OUV of the property, including a plan to build 31 housing units for settlers in the core zone.

The State Party considers that the property should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2019

The State Party has submitted the proposed Statement of OUV, prepared in accordance with the process adopted through Decision 42 COM 7A.28, to the World Heritage Centre for review by ICOMOS. The adoption of the Statement of OUV by the Committee is a necessary precursor to finalization and consideration of the draft DSOCR and draft corrective measures. The Statement of OUV is also a fundamental foundation for the Management and Conservation Plan. This project should proceed in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Advisory Bodies.

The efforts of the State Party to begin the preparation of a Management and Conservation Plan for the property should be commended, as should the conservation works that have been completed or are in progress. Endorsement of a new legislation that would prevent new construction inside the property is welcomed. It is recommended that the Committee remind the State Party that details of any significant conservation and development projects should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

Moreover, as circumstances permit, the processes for managing conservation and development projects at the property should include preparation of HIAs in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties.

It is recommended that the property be retained on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2019
43 COM 7A.29
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) (C 1565)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3.Corr and the annex attached to this decision,
  2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.28, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
  3. Decides that the status of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town relating to the World Heritage List remains unchanged as reflected in Decision 42 COM 7A.28 of the last World Heritage Committee.

 ---

ANNEX

The World Heritage Committee
43rd session of the Committee (43 COM)

  1. Having considered Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3.Corr,
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a 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 preliminary proposed 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, to discuss the proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV), the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the related corrective measures, as well as the proposed Management and Conservation Plan for the property, 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 44th session in 2020;
  6. 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;
  7. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the Property;
  8. Further 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;
  9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
  10. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.



 

Read more
43 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/19/43.COM/7A, WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add, WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3 and WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3.Corr),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 43 COM 7A.41)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision43 COM 7A.42)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 43 COM 7A.45)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 43 COM 7A.48)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.5)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 43 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.8)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 43 COM 7A.9)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.10)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.11)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 43 COM 7A.17)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 43 COM 7A.4)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 43 COM 7A.1)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 43 COM 7A.18)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 43 COM 7A.19)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 43 COM 7A.20)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 43 COM 7A.22)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 43 COM 7A.12)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 43 COM 7A.23)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 43 COM 7A.24)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 43 COM 7A.25)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 43 COM 7A.26)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 43 COM 7A.27)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 43 COM 7A.13)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 43 COM 7A.53)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 43 COM 7A.54)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 43 COM 7A.55)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 43 COM 7A.43)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 43 COM 7A.14)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 43 COM 7A.30)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 43 COM 7A.29)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 43 COM 7A.50)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 43 COM 7A.51)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.15)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 43 COM 7A.46)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 43 COM 7A.2)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 43 COM 7A.31)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 43 COM 7A.32)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 43 COM 7A.33)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 43 COM 7A.34)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 43 COM 7A.35)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 43 COM 7A.36)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 43 COM 7A.56)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 43 COM 7A.47)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 43 COM 7A.16)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 43 COM 7A.3)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 43 COM 7A.44)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 43 COM 7A.52)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 43 COM 7A.38)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 43 COM 7A.39)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 43 COM 7A.40)
Read more

Decision: 43 COM 7A.29

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine)

 

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3.Corr and the annex attached to this decision,
  2. Recalling Decision 42 COM 7A.28, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
  3. Decides that the status of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town relating to the World Heritage List remains unchanged as reflected in Decision 42 COM 7A.28 of the last World Heritage Committee.

 

---

 

ANNEX

The World Heritage Committee
43rd session of the Committee (43 COM)

  1. Having considered Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2;
  2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a 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 preliminary proposed 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, to discuss the proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV), the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and the related corrective measures, as well as the proposed Management and Conservation Plan for the property, 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 44th session in 2020;
  6. 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;
  7. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the Property;
  8. Further 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;
  9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2020, 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 44th session in 2020;
  10. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2018 Next 2021
Report year: 2019
State of Palestine
Date of Inscription: 2017
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List (dates): 2017-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3
WHC/19/43.COM/7A.Add.3.Corr
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2019) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 43COM (2019)
Exports
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* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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