Palestinian Proposal to UNESCO: Western Wall is Part of al-Aqsa

/ October 17, 2015

A new proposal to establish that the Western Wall is part of al-Aqsa Mosque is set to be submitted by the Palestinians to a vote at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) next week, according to YNet.

The proposal states among other things that the Western Wall is part of al-Aqsa Mosque, and condemns the Israeli government for its call on citizens to bear arms because of the recent wave of terror attacks – presumably referring to statements by the mayors of Jerusalem and the police chief in Ashdod. The proposal was presented to the Executive Council of UNESCO, which has 58 member countries.

The Western Wall or the Buraq Wall is the retaining wall to the west of the esplanade which housed the Second (Herodian) Temple until its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. Since the mid-seventh century CE, the esplanade is the site of two mosques al-Aqsa (with the grey dome to the right [south] and the Dome of the Rock, to the left). Until Israel's capture and occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967, in the public plaza directly to the west and in front of the wall was situated the 770 year old Mughrabi quarter which included 135 homes housing 650 residents and a Muslim religious school. Israel ordered the residents to leave their homes on June 10, 1967 whereupon it razed the neighborhood to clear space for the current plaza.

The Western Wall or the Buraq Wall is the retaining wall to the west of the esplanade which housed the Second (Herodian) Temple until its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE. Since the mid-seventh century CE, the esplanade is the site of two mosques al-Aqsa (with the grey dome to the right [south] and the Dome of the Rock, to the left). Until Israel’s capture and occupation of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1967, in the public plaza directly to the west and in front of the wall was situated the 770 year old Mughrabi quarter which included 135 homes housing 650 residents and a Muslim religious school. Israel ordered the residents to leave their homes on June 10, 1967 whereupon it razed the neighborhood to clear space for the current plaza. (Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)

Since the Palestinians are not members of the committee, the six Arab states submitted the proposal on behalf of the Palestinians: Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. However, senior Israeli sources say that the Palestinians are simultaneously acting to move the proposal to the UNESCO plenum, in which they are recognized as a state. According to Yedioth Ahronoth the main points of the proposal are as follows:

  1. To declare and confirm that the Western Wall is part of al-Aqsa Mosque, and is called Buraq Plaza (as the Palestinians call the Western Wall). The same applies to the Mughrabi Gate.
  2. The Palestinians want the countries of the world to condemn Israel for calling on its citizens to bear arms in light of recent terror wave. The Palestinian argument is that this has led to the continuation of the cycle of violence and has caused multiple casualties.
  3. The Palestinians seek to condemn recent actions by Israel and the IDF in Jerusalem, which is called “the occupied capital of Palestine” in the document.
  4. It calls for a condemnation of Israel for the continued excavations near the Temple Mount and the Old City, in opposition to previous UNESCO decisions. The Palestinians condemn the Israeli refusal to allow UNESCO inspection teams to visit the Temple Mount.
  5. Harsh condemnation of “Israeli aggression and illegal measures taken against the freedom of worship and access of Muslim to al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel’s attempts to break the status quo since 1967”. Israel is also accused of preventing clerics, sheikhs and preachers from accessing the mosque, in addition to Israeli security forces arresting many people at the mosques. Israel is also condemned for alleged incursions into the mosque.
  6. Condemnation of the continued attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque by right-wing Jewish extremists. Palestinians call on Israel, “the occupying power”, to take measures to prevent provocations which violate the sanctity of the mosque, and call for an end to the “aggression” which fuels tensions in the area and among believers.
  7. Condemnation of Israel’s decision to build a cable car in East Jerusalem and build “Beit Haliba” (an office building and a museum near the Western Wall), a few other buildings and an elevator near the wall.
  8. Palestinians call for the confirmation and declaration that the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb (the supposed resting place of grave of Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of the Prophet Mohammed) are part of Palestine.
  9. Condemnation of alleged violence by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists against Palestinians, including children, intended to harm the character of Hebron. The Palestinians urge “the occupying power” to prevent these attacks.

Israel has been acting behind the scenes to persuade as many countries as possible to oppose the proposal, or at least to abstain, but it is likely that the proposal will be approved due to the automatic Muslim and Arab majority.

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