UNESCO resolution hurts Jews, Christians and U.N.

Founded in 1945, the purpose of the United Nations is to promote peace and humanity worldwide through dialogue and understanding.

Despite many heated debates, the U.N. has achieved its goal of being an organization where international concerns can be debated peacefully – until recently. Over the last decade or so, it has become a haven, or forum, for political hostility rather than for peaceful solutions. The U.N. is now perceived as fostering tension rather than defusing it.

A case in point is the October resolution by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to delegitimize the Jewish people and its long history in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The passage of this resolution erased more than 2,000 years of Jewish history in the Old City and surrounding areas. Any reference to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall was replaced by the Arabic term “Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif compound.” This essentially erases the history of Jews and Christians in these areas.

The resolution also criticized Israel for unlawful archeological digs taking place at, and near, the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif compound. Interestingly, archaeological excavations in the vicinity of the Temple Mount have been undertaken not by Israel but by the Jordanian/Palestinian-led Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which oversees the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif.

On Oct. 26, another UNESCO body, The World Heritage Committee, a group of 21 countries, voted to also deny the Jewish people’s history in Jerusalem. Seven of the 10 “yes” votes came from countries that are members of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. The three others are close allies of Russia.

It seems inconceivable that UNESCO can even doubt the long history of the Jewish and the Christian people in Jerusalem, especially in the areas surrounding and including the Temple Mount and Western Wall.

New York City Archbishop Timothy Dolan, speaking at Providence College on Nov. 3, was asked his thoughts on the U.N. and the passage of the resolution. He replied by saying the U.N. has not been nice to Jews or Christians lately.

In an interview in the Jerusalem Post on Oct. 9, Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau remembered a conversation he had with David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister.

“It was on April 2, 1972. I came to Ben-Gurion’s house on Keren Kayemeth Boulevard [today’s Ben-Gurion Boulevard, in Tel Aviv]. We spoke about Ben-Gurion’s testimony before the Peel Commission. [During testimony, Lord Peel had asked Ben-Gurion if he had a deed that showed the land belonged to him.] Ben-Gurion responded, ‘Yes, I have a deed. Lord Peel, you are a British Christian, you believe in the Bible.’ Ben-Gurion then dramatically lifted up the Bible and proudly said, ‘This is our deed.’ ”

The recent passage of this resolution is clearly counter to the purpose of UNESCO. According to its website, “UNESCO strives to build networks among nations that enable solidarity, by building intercultural understanding: through protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity.” The passage of a resolution that eliminates Jewish and Christian history and culture surrounding the Temple Mount certainly does not carry out this mission.

UNESCO and it U.N. message has never been more important. Policies must be created to address the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development. Interconnected societies and intercultural dialogue is vital if we are to live together while acknowledging our diversity.

Passage of resolutions to delegitimize Israel and the Jewish and Christian people also weaken and delegitimize the United Nations and its many agencies. Unfortunately, it also weakens opportunities to negotiate a peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

In the coming days, the Community Relations Council (CRC) of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will continue to discuss this issue with the Rhode Island Congressional delegation. Our hope is that our United Nations ambassador will continue to speak out against the resolution and U.N. bias against Israel. Like other CRCs nationwide, we will discuss this problem at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ annual meeting, this winter, and work toward a national policy on this issue. Your voice can be heard as well. Please contact your representative and senators to voice your concern.

MARTY COOPER is the community relations director at the Jewish Alliance.