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State of Conservation Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town 2021

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town

State of Palestine
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

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

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Absence of Statement of Outstanding Universal Value at the time of inscription
  • Management systems/management plan: Need of a management plan
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. Currently under review.

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. Currently under review.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2021

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

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
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 2021**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021

On 28 January 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, an updated version of which was submitted on 29 January 2021. Both reports are available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1565/documents/, and present the following information:

  • The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Hebron Municipality (HM), and Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) remain committed to safeguarding the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
  • Following a meeting in Paris in December 2018 and further consultation with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, a revised draft retrospective Statement of OUV (SOUV), a proposed Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and related draft corrective measures were submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
  • Progress has been made towards the elaboration of a Management and Conservation Plan (MCP), within the framework of International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund. A draft MCP has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and is subject to a technical review;
  • Works to improve the physical condition of the property and the socio-economic conditions for the local community progressed in 2019, but were curtailed in 2020 owing to COVID-19 lockdown and restrictive measures. Projects include the ongoing conservation and maintenance of the Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of Patriarchs, rehabilitation of infrastructure, maintaining archways in the Old Town’s centre, and the adaptive use of significant buildings as an interpretation centre and a tourism promotion centre;
  • According to the reports, the property remains vulnerable owing to ongoing illegal activities, with more than 800 violations reported in 2019. Plans for a new Israeli settlement in the old vegetable market (Al-Hisba) within the property, requiring the removal of the historic market building and numerous shops, thereby affecting the urban pattern of the Old Town, are beyond the State Party’s control. Other inappropriate developments include excavations of Al-Zatrai house. At the Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of Patriarchs, conservation works are prevented by military orders, and an inappropriate electric elevator is proposed;
  • Efforts have been directed towards preparing a management mechanism to control future large scale development or major restoration, in line with the recently-endorsed Tangible Cultural Heritage law, which prevents any new construction inside the property, and requires Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for any major restorations.

In addition, UNESCO received several letters from the State Party concerning potential threats to the property and the above-mentioned activities, including land confiscation, plans to construct an elevator at Al-Haram Al Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs, prevention of conservation work, demolition and other transformations. The Secretariat followed up with the State Party of Israel, requesting the relevant information.

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 2021

The State Party has submitted to the World Heritage Centre a revised proposed retrospective SOUV, which has been prepared in accordance with the process adopted through Decision 42 COM 7A.28. The adoption of the SOUV by the Committee is required for the finalization and consideration of the draft DSOCR and draft corrective measures. Furthermore, the SOUV is a fundamental foundation for the MCP.

The MCP project is welcome, as is the State Party’s commitment and submission of a draft document for technical review, but  the MCP must be informed by an adopted SOUV, and its finalization should progress in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, the UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Advisory Bodies.

The efforts of the State Party to undertake activities for the conservation and management of the property, and for socio-economic promotion, are welcome and should be encouraged.

The Tangible Cultural Heritage Law and requirements for HIAs and EIAs for major restoration projects within the property are also welcome. The scale and extent of illegal activities, the proposed construction of a new settlement in the old vegetable market (Al-Hisba) within the property, and other transformations, excavations and projects, such as the planned electric elevator at Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of Patriarchs represent potential threats to the OUV of the property. In accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, details of any significant conservation and development project should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, and before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse.

Any action that would cause damage to the property and its OUV should be avoided by all parties and all possible measures to protect the property should be taken, in particular to refrain from physical damage, prevention of conservation projects, and inappropriate new development projects within the property and its buffer zone.

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

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7A.16
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) (C 1565)
Decision: 44 COM 7A.16

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2 and the annex attached to this decision,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.28, and 43 COM 7A 29, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) 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
44th session of the Committee (44 COM)
  1. Having considered Document WHC/21/44.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 Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (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 45th session in 2022;
  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, and also takes note of reports regarding new planned projects including an electric elevator;
  7. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the property;
  8. 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. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session in 2022;
  10. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
44 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/21/44.COM/7A, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2.Add),
  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 44 COM 7A.28)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 44 COM 7A.29)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 44 COM 7A.32)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 44 COM 7A.35)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.39)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.40)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.41)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.42)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.43)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.45)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 44 COM 7A.5)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.55)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.52)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 44 COM 7A.6)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.7)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 44 COM 7A.8)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 44 COM 7A.10)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 44 COM 7A.47)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 44 COM 7A.11)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 44 COM 7A.12)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 44 COM 7A.13)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 44 COM 7A.14)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 44 COM 7A.15)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 44 COM 7A.48)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 44 COM 7A.1)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 44 COM 7A.2)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 44 COM 7A.3)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 44 COM 7B.56)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 44 COM 7A.30)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 44 COM 7A.49)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 44 COM 7A.17)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 44 COM 7A.16)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 44 COM 7A.36)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 44 COM 7A.37)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.50)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 44 COM 7A.33)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 44 COM 7A.53)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 44 COM 7A.18)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 44 COM 7A.19)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 44 COM 7A.20)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 44 COM 7A.21)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 44 COM 7A.22)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 44 COM 7A.23)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 44 COM 7A.4)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.51)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.54)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 44 COM 7A.31)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 44 COM 7A.38)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 44 COM 7A.25)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 44 COM 7A.26)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 44 COM 7A.27).
Read more
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7A.16

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having considered Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2 and the annex attached to this decision,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7A.28, and 43 COM 7A 29, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) 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
44th session of the Committee (44 COM)
  1. Having considered Document WHC/21/44.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 Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (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 45th session in 2022;
  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, and also takes note of reports regarding new planned projects including an electric elevator;
  7. Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the property;
  8. 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. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session in 2022;
  10. Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2019 Next 2023
Report year: 2021
State of Palestine
Date of Inscription: 2017
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List (dates): 2017-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2020) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2020
arrow_circle_right 44COM (2021)
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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