The Kotel – to be renamed as the Muslim site Al Buraq according to UNESCO
It looks like Yom Kippur came a day too early for the UN, who have yet more apologizing and atoning to do. UNESCO voted today to deny any Jewish connection to Jerusalem. Yes, you read that right.
The UN passed a resolution Thursday denying the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall
The resolution was supported by 24 states, including Russia and China. 6 countries opposed and 26 abstained.
The resolution maintains that the Western Wall and Temple Mount will be referred to by their Arabic names and the Hebrew terms for the sites will only appear in quotation marks in UN references.
Earlier Israel had tried to prevent the decision, even asking the Vatican to help prevent the resolution. The Vatican enjoys observer status in UNESCO.
This vote differs only marginally, and more egregiously, from a previous vote taken in April: From the first link:
In a recent UNESCO meeting, Arab states and the Palestinian Authority have pushed a new resolution, explicitly describing the Temple Mount as an exclusively Muslim holy site, referring to the site of both ancient Jewish temples by its Arabic name: Haram a-Sharif.
This time, however, the proposed UNESCO resolution also touches upon the Western Wall that surrounds the Temple Mount. Like the Temple Mount, the Western Wall is also referred to by the Arabic name, with the Hebrew name included in brackets.
Israeli diplomats called the move an attempt to discredit the ancient Jewish connection to the Western Wall in the eyes of the international community.
The resolution does recognize the importance of Jerusalem in general to the three major Abrahamic faiths, but observers noted that this was likely an attempt to make an otherwise transparently anti-Israel measure appear more balanced. The order of faiths mentioned in connection to Jerusalem is Islam, Christianity, and Judaism last.
It seems that UNESCO just can’t get enough of denying Judaism’s connection to its holiest site and capital city.
If you want to get a glimpse of the insanity, take a look at Israellycool who posts the draft resolution – which in my anger I read as “daft resolution” which is surely a better descriptor. Some of the highlights:
Deeply deplores the failure of Israel, the occupying Power, to cease the persistent excavations and works in East Jerusalem particularly in and around the Old City, and reiterates its request to Israel, the occupying Power, to prohibit all such works in conformity with its obligations under the provisions of the relevant UNESCO conventions, resolutions and decisions;
Excuse me? Who is illegally excavating and destroying priceless artefacts from the First and Second Temple period? The Waqf, on the Temple Mount, that’s who! If Israel is responsible for any failure, it is of failing to stop the Waqf and throw them out for destroying our heritage and that of Christianity.
Calls on Israel, the occupying Power, to allow for the restoration of the historic status quo that prevailed until September 2000, under which the Jordanian Awqaf (Religious Foundation) Department exercised exclusive authority on Al-Aqṣa Mosque/Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif, and its mandate extended to all affairs relating to the unimpeded administration of Al-Aqṣa Mosque/Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif, including maintenance, restoration and regulating access;
I was not aware that the status quo had been changed. In fact the only people changing the status quo are the Waqf themselves who refuse to allow the slightest sign of Jewish prayer, and hardly a Jewish presence at all, on the Temple Mount. Again the Israeli police and government are complicit in this Waqf denial of religious rights, but since it is anti-Jewish denial I am surprised that UNESCO are objecting! (I am being sarcastic here in case anyone misses my British sense of humour).
Firmly deplores the continuous storming of Al-Aqṣa Mosque/Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif by Israeli right-wing extremists and uniformed forces, and urges Israel, the occupying Power, to take necessary measures to prevent provocative abuses that violate the sanctity and integrity of Al-Aqṣa Mosque/Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif;
Let’s have a look at those storming Jews:
“Storming” Jews on the Temple Mount. Some storm!
I do not think “storming” means what you think it means.
Deprecates the continuing Israeli unilateral measures and decisions regarding the Ascent to the Mughrabi Gate, including the latest works conducted at the Mughrabi Gate entrance in February 2015, the instalment of an umbrella at that entrance as well as the enforced creation of a new Jewish prayer platform south of the Mughrabi Ascent in Al-Buraq Plaza “Western Wall Plaza”, and the removal of the Islamic remains at the site, and reaffirms that no Israeli unilateral measures, shall be taken in conformity with its status and obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
OK, as soon as I saw the words “Al Buraq” I stopped reading. Anyone who believes in a flying horse but not in the retaining wall of Solomon’s Temple needs their head examined.
Israellycool remarks:
For our part, Israel’s Mission to UNESCO in Paris has given board members and international diplomats a brochure detailing the deep historical connections Judaism has to those sites. You can see the brochure here.
“These facts and evidence will leave no doubt, and without undermining other connection of other religions to the holy places in Jerusalem, of the deepest and longest Jewish presence in Jerusalem since ancient times,” Ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen wrote.
It has come to this, Israel having to send out brochures to somehow prove our connection to sites Jews have been praying, crying and mourning at for thousands of years? I doubt a glossy brochure will convince anyone who does not already see the truth.
I think it is pathetic that Israel has to give out brochures to explain the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Since this connection forms the core basis of Judaeo-Christian Western civilization, anyone who does not know is not interested in knowing, and no amount of propaganda or educational leaflets will change their minds.
In my opinion Israel should make a dignified withdrawal from UNESCO and cut off all contact with that corrupt, absurd, ridiculous and shameful organization. When they come to their senses, maybe we can consider returning. I can see absolutely no upside to belonging to an institution that not only denies history, but denies current events that are taking place in full view of the international media in real time.
As I type these words I can hear the banging and clanging of Sukkot being built in our parking lot, as well as in neighbours’ gardens. On Sunday night the festival of Sukkot will begin, one of the three pilgrimage festivals when the ancient Jews made their way to – gasp – Jerusalem! To – gasp! – The Temple! Not to Haram al Sharif. Not to Al Aqsa. The Temple.
Their they brought offerings from their harvest to give thanks to G-d for His bounty. The offerings were presented, not to Sheikhs and Imams at the al Aqsa Mosque but to the Priests, the Cohanim, in the Temple, there on that very same Temple Mount, the Har Habayit.
No amount of renaming sites and rewriting history will change those facts.
Shame on the UN, shame on UNESCO and shame on every one of those countries who voted yes and even those who abstained. (What? They couldn’t make up their minds? My mind boggles).
My mother had a good suggestion: Let us present a draft resolution that Mecca is a holiday spa in Arabia. Let’s see how they like that!
Here is a selection of Twitter reactions:
https://twitter.com/TuttleSinger/status/786615975839956992
https://twitter.com/starlynscom/status/786625595228626944
I’ll let the final word go to the Board of Deputies of British Jews:
Anne's Opinions 
I’m furious that Israeli ambassadors were running around trying to get various countries to vote against or abstain . I cant get my head around that. We had to persuade a few European countries into abstaining.? Are we mad? Or is the whole world mad? As Netanyahu said ,perhaps make a vote that Batman doesn’t go with Robin, the Vatican has nothing to do with Christianity, the pyramids don’t belong to Egypt etc.. He said that UNESCO doesn’t even need to go to Israel to learn Jewish history, just go to Titus’s arch in Rome (perhaps that doesn’t belong to them either!) and see the pictures of the Menorah being taken out of Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed engraved on the arch.
But I also blame all of our ministers starting with Moshe Dayan. Because they have continuously tried to”keep the calm or status quo” and disallowed Jews to go up to the Temple mount, or enforce forbiddance of prayer, this is the result. It’s now time to make a really strong stand and change those laws double quick.
Very well said. I agree with every word. I hate this pathetic cringing “court Jew” running to plead with the goyim that “please sir, be nice to us”. If they can’t bring themselves to recognize our connection with our holiest place (only the third “holeyest place in Islam”) then stuff them and the horse they rode in on.
I feel sick about this. It couldn’t be a more transparent denial of history. And I couldn’t agree more with the criticism of those appeasement strategies that have allowed this situation to develop. Appeasement does not bring peace! And clearly, it doesn’t even bring a willingness to accept uncontrovertible facts.
The members of Unesco know very well what they are doing. There are only two reasons why they voted as they did. Either they are totally intimidated by the Arab states, or they really are a bunch of antisemites who want to “stick it” to Israel despite knowing that none of it makes the slightest sense.
The two options are not mutually exclusive either.
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Close the Har Habayit to Moslems. Tell them we’re protecting the status quo. And if it’s going to cause a war, bring it on! Sometimes you have to force a crisis to breaking point. Any war will damage Europe much more than us. And when it’s over change the status quo in our favour permanently. Oh, and while this war is on, transfer all West Bank Arabs to Syria, (and then from there to Europe?). And finally, declare publicly that in the next round of hostilities all UN personnel and installations will be treated as enemy combatants, without mercy.
Good ideas DP. I don’t think Europe would actually get involved – if they have any sense. If they would just leave us alone to finish the job once and for all – and no, that does NOT mean killing all the Muslims! – then maybe peace could break out.
What it does mean is that the world should allow Israel to win a total victory for a change, without tying our hands behind our back. Let us get rid of all the terrorists, and retake the territory and establish our FULL control over it, including especially the Old City of Jerusalem, and Hebron.
Then re-educate the next generation of Palestinians by putting their educational system under the control of Israel, and maybe in 50-100 years time we will be able to live in some kind of peace.
Rather, the next generation of “Israelis” will be educated under a system which is under the control of Muslim Palestine when Israel becomes extinct, and that is very soon, in shaa Allah. Also, need I mention how very strange it sounds that an Israel supporter writes about getting rid of all the “terrorists.” Surely that would mean you have to get rid of your own selves? So, are you’re going to commit suicide or something?
“O Children of Israel,…believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me…O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds. And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.”-Qur’aan, Chapter al-Baqarah
LOL! You are hilarious! How will the next generation of Israelis (why do you put our name in scare quotes? Don’t you think we exist?) be educated under Muslims? Do you think we are going anywhere? Pffft! 😀
What you call terrorists and what I call terrorists are two different things. For me, for Israelis, and for 99% of civilized people terrorists are those who kill random civilians, butcher children in their beds, hijack planes, suicide bombers, etc. That would cover 100% of Muslim terrorists. Israelis do not such thing. Of course you are going to disagree. But you are a sad brainwashed Muslim so I expect nothing else.
As for your quote from Koran – I agree that the Children of Israel have to remember G-d. In fact that is what we, as Jews, already do. You’re only confirming our own Jewish faith. Well done!!
As for the rest of the Koran, you’re welcome to it. But we Israelis and Jews, and the Christians too, believe that the Koran is a made-up fable with stories stolen from OUR Bible, and homilies used to cover the atrocities committed by Arab warlords in centuries gone by.
We follow our own Torah, our own Prophets and sing our own Psalms written by our very own King David and King Solomon in our own capital city of Jerusalem. You’re welcome to borrow them and read from them, and maybe even learn from them if you’re capable of such. Then there might be a chance of peace.
The next generation of “Israelis” will be educated under Muslim Palestine when the world will know no such thing as a country by name of Israel. And no, of course not, you won’t go anywhere, if that’s what you wish. If that should happen, how would your following generations be taught under a system which is under the control of Muslims?
And why are what I call a terrorist and that which you call a terrorist two different things? Why do you already seem to have formed the conclusion that I am not one of the “99% of civilized people”? Of course, you’re not brainwashed at all.
Israelis do not kill random civilians? They do not kill innocents? Please tell me you’re joking! Give us a break with your “Muslim terrorist” parroting as well. It’s getting old and boring, and the word “terrorist” has become overused by the ones who are actually guilty of terror and supporting terror.
Also, the Qur’aan is not a made up fable. It is a Book which confirms the revelations of before. “…the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old.””–Chapter al An’am. You’re only confirming that which the Qur’aan has said. Welldone!!
“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful. But if you do not – and you will never be able to – then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.”- Chapter Baqarah.
If you cannot meet this challenge, at least point me to someone has met this challenge?
Furthermore, sure, you are free to follow your Torah. “There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.”- Chapter al-Baqarah. It is just unfortunate that you follow a Book which has been altered. Therefore, I sincerely invite you to read the unchanged and preserved Word of God, the Qur’aan.
Finally, no thanks to your last statement. God forbid that I choose misguidance over guidance.
| “Do you (faithful believers) covet that they will believe in your religion in spite of the fact that a party of them (Jewish rabbis) used to hear the Word of Allah (the Tawraat), then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it?”-al-Baqarah |
I’ve got to admit I barely understood a word of what you wrote. You contradict yourself all over the place, one the one hand saying that we Jews can believe in our Torah and continue to do so under the “generous” rule of the Muslims (ha!!) and on the other that we have to believe in the Koran.
As I said, a bunch of fairy tales.
But never mind, I should have known better than to engage with a person/entity who has the word “kill” in their name.
Have a nice life. Don’t kill any moderate Muslims. Or even extreme ones. And don’t kill anyone else either. In fact you should consider renaming yourself.
And one other thing. Bye bye. You are not welcome here any more. This is a Jew-friendly blog.
One small step: http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-suspends-cooperation-with-unesco-over-jerusalem-vote/
Not much, but at least it’s a start.
Yes, I just read it. But how long will the boycott last?
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