Destruction of Nablus Old City,, a war crime, Palestinian minister
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/13/2002

Palestinian minister of culture and information, Yasser Abed Rabbo, condemned the latest Israeli efforts to cause irreparable damage to invaluable cultural and historical sites as war crimes and crimes against humanity, most notably in the Old City of Nablus.

In a letter to UNESCO Director-General, Koichiro Matsuura and to diplomatic representatives to the Palestine National Authority (PNA) on 11 August, the minister called upon the international community to safeguard Palestinian heritage and culture and to call upon Israel to halt its continuous efforts to destroy Palestinian land and history.

The damage in the historic core, which make up 70% of the whole fabric of the City, Abed Rabbo said, includes Al-Khadra Mosque; the Greek Orthodox Church, Sheik Musalm Sanctuary; Six traditional soap factories; Abu Samat factory, the Carvanarei of Khan et-Tujjar in addition to more than 64 domestic units, estimated to have sustained partial or complete damage.

This includes the whole infrastructure of the area such as roads, electricity and sewage; 15 groups of buildings in Al-Qaryoun quarter, on the southwestern border of the old city and Al-Fatimeyeh school, the minister added.

"Following these dangerous developments and implications, the Palestinian leadership reiterates its appeal to the international community to condemn Israel for its continuous violation of international law concerning the protection of cultural heritage, and most notably its military targeting and deliberate demolishing of the Old City of Nablus, as an act made in direct contravention of human rights and as a war crime against humanity" the letter goes on.

Previous Stories:
  UN expert condemns Israel's destruction of homes, prevention of children from school   (8/10/2002)
  Security meeting failure between the Israelis, the Palestinians   (8/9/2002)
  UN calls for immediate pullout from Palestinian territories; Israel, the US reject   (8/7/2002)
  Human Rights Watch: Israeli army commited war crimes against the Palestinians   (5/4/2002)

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