UNESCO recently added Saint Hilarion Monastery, also known as Tell Umm Amer, to its prestigious „World Heritage“ list along with the „World Heritage In Danger“ list during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India. This decision reflects the significance and vulnerability of this ancient monastery that is located in the Gaza Strip.
The Committee utilized an emergency procedure outlined in the World Heritage Convention to fast-track the inscription of Saint Hilarion Monastery. This procedure is designed for sites facing imminent threats, such as the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. UNESCO is closely monitoring the site using satellite imagery to prevent any potential damage.
Following the inscription, UNESCO has instructed the 196 State Parties, including countries like Israel, to refrain from causing any harm to the monastery directly or indirectly. Despite Israel’s withdrawal from UNESCO, it is still a State Party bound by the terms of the Convention to safeguard the site.
The departure of the United States and Israel from UNESCO in 2018 due to alleged biases and the acceptance of Palestine as a member raised concerns. However, under the Biden administration, the United States has rejoined UNESCO, while Israel continues to participate as a non-voting observer.
Simultaneous inscriptions to both UNESCO’s World Heritage and „In Danger“ lists are not uncommon, as seen with recent examples like Ukraine’s Odesa historic center and Yemen’s ancient kingdom of Saba. Currently, there are 1,123 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, with only 56 on the „In Danger“ list.
Requests for emergency inscriptions must originate from State Parties, as seen with Palestine including Saint Hilarion Monastery on its Tentative List in 2012 and submitting the nomination in 2024 for urgent consideration. The decision to include the monastery was made by consensus among the Committee members.
The inclusion of Saint Hilarion Monastery in UNESCO’s World Heritage List highlights its cultural and historical significance while also drawing attention to the need for its protection in the face of external threats. The emergency inscription serves as a step towards ensuring the preservation of this ancient site for future generations.
Napsat komentář