UNESCO keeps Old Jerusalem on endangered sites list

AMMAN — UNESCO's World Heritage Committee decided on Tuesday to keep Old Jerusalem on the list of endangered sites, according to Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat.

Ghunaimat, who is also the government spokesperson, told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the draft resolution on Old Jerusalem and its walls was the result of joint action by the Kingdom, Palestine and the Arab and Islamic groups in the organisation.

The minister added that the draft resolution, which was adopted without voting during the committee's session in Manama, supports previous decisions on the old city and stresses the need to keep the status of the old city on the World Heritage List.

She added that the resolution appendix supports the Jordanian stance on the old city, including its Islamic and Christian sites, which refuses unilateral Israeli acts and violations against these holy places.

The minister stressed that the Kingdom will continue defending Jerusalem and its holy sites, based on the historical Hashemite Custodianship of the holy sites in East Jerusalem.