UNESCO Resolutions Against Israel

On Wednesday, October 20, 2015, UNESCO condemned Israel for continuing with archeological excavations near the Temple Mount and in other locations in Jerusalem’s Old City. Although they did not include a clause declaring the Western Wall to be exclusively a Muslim religious site, they did pass a resolution listing the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron (which Muslims refer to as the “Sanctuary of Abraham”) and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem as strictly Muslim sites.  The United States and the UNESCO General Director applied intense pressure to sway the vote for the Western Wall to remain a holy site for Jews.