Arab member states of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are expected to withdraw resolutions aimed at undercutting ties between the Jewish people and holy sites within Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, according to Israel’s ambassador to the organization Carmel Shama HaCohen.
UNESCO had been expected to vote Friday in Paris on resolutions condemning Israeli actions in Judea and Samaria. However, due to recent developments, as well as a behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts involving Jordan and the PA, the resolutions will be replaced with a vote to delay the motion.
The resolutions were expected to be similar in nature to previous ones, including two from this past year; One ignoring a Jewish connection to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, referring to it simply as “Al-Haram Al-Sharif”, as well as one marking the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron as a Palestinian heritage site, raising the ire of Israeli leaders.
“Time will tell if this is [simply] a change in tactics, or a real change in approach [that symbolizes] significant progress towards wiping the table and the organization clean of incitement and politicization against us,” said HaCohen, “I’d be happy if, after the unpleasantness of recent years, Israel and its UNESCO-member neighbors found a way to act in a positive way and cooperate in the fields of education, science and culture, leaving the political conflicts to the leaders in their relative platforms.”
Still, HaCohen remained cautious as to the chances of the vote being delayed. “‘I’ll believe it when I hear the chairman’s gavel. As far as I am concerned, I will write two speeches,” the ambassador said, signaling that he is prepared for any scenario.