Jerusalem
CNN
—
of United Nations World Heritage Committee voted on Sunday to inscribe the Tell es-Sultan ruins in Jericho as a “Palestinian World Heritage Site.”
UNESCO said in an official statement that the decision was taken at a conference held in Riyadh. X accountformerly known as Twitter.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision, but Israel expressed anger.
The newly designated site in Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank contains ruins dating back to the 9th millennium BC. Jericho itself is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision, recognizing Jericho’s “cultural, economic and political importance” and marking it as a testament to “10,000 years of human development,” according to a statement released on Sunday. praised.
What is the West Bank and why is it important?
In a statement sent to CNN on Sunday, PA Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Maya emphasized the importance of the decision, calling the site an integral and valuable part of the diverse Palestinian heritage.
“The outstanding universal value of this site makes it worthy of being listed as a World Heritage Site,” Maya said.
However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry expressed disapproval of the decision, saying it viewed the move as “another sign of the Palestinians’ cynical use of UNESCO and the politicization of the organization.”
Jericho is located in the Jordan Valley, between the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west.
In 2010, Jericho celebrated being the world’s oldest walled city, dating back to the modern Stone Age.
