source: Haaretz
Contrary to Israeli criticism, UNESCO's resolution on Temple Mount has nothing to do with staking religious claims, and even includes some wins for Israel. If Israel wants the world to recognize Judaism's link to Jerusalem, it must sit down and talk to the Palestinians.
Israeli politicians rushed to condemn the resolution adopted by the UN's education, science and culture agency on Thursday with regard to the Temple Mount. The bulk of the criticism touched on the motion's terminology and was largely justified. But a close reading of the resolution shows that in fact, it includes a few positive revisions from the last such resolution passed by UNESCO. More importantly, it calls on Israel to enter negotiations with Jordan and the Palestinians to improve the situation on Temple Mount for everyone involved.
Contrary to Israeli claims, the document isn't a declaration as to the rightful owner of Temple Mount and its surroundings, or as to which religion has sacred claim to the site and its wall. The resolution is about determining how to maintain and nurture a world heritage site recognized by UNESCO. The agency has set rules for the preservation of Jerusalem's Old City, and these rules are being violated, according to the writers of the document.
Israel is recognized by international law as an occupier, so the document's repeated reference to Israel as such shouldn't raise eyebrows. However, the terminology does have a clear slant toward the Islamic narrative. For example, the term Western Wall appears in quotes throughout the document, while the Arabic term for the site, Al-Burak, does not. The document refers to the Temple Mount by its Arabic names, Haram Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa, while making no mention of its Jewish names.
But the first achievement for Israel comes early in the document. In section 3, UNESCO's executive board affirms "the importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls for the three monotheistic religions." The implication is that Judaism is one of the three religions that consider Jerusalem's Old City holy. This assertion does not exist in the previous version of the resolution that UNESCO approved in April.
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