A foiled Israeli attempt to annex sites in Jerusalem
Regional-Israel, Politics, 1/30/2001

Egypt and the Arab countries, with South Africa's full support, managed to foil an Israeli scheme tailored to affirm its sovereignty on Jerusalem and some parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

"This took place during the meeting recently held by the world heritage committee and hosted by Australia," said Ambassador Soliman Awad, Assistant Foreign Minister for Multi-international relations. He added that the Egyptian-Arab supported Palestinian endeavor has managed to foil the Israeli bid to annex some 28 archeological sites, including East Jerusalem, which Israel sought to include in its cultural possessions as a world heritage.

He expounded that many contacts were made with several UNESCO permanent members and the world heritage center to turn out the Israeli list. Ambassador Awad said that the Egyptian move came in view of its distinguished position in the membership of the committee, adding that Egypt has coordinated stances with several countries in order to reject the Israeli list through technical discussion.

Awad ascribed the success of the Egyptian, Arab and Palestinian efforts in blocking the discussion of the Israeli list to the fact that such list contradicts the United Nation resolutions on Jerusalem. It is note-worthy that the world heritage committee is affiliated to the UNESCO and was set up in 1970.

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