In October 2016, UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) proposed two controversial draft resolutions condemning Israeli actions at Jerusalem’s holy sites as well as denying all Jewish ties to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. The draft resolution was an attempt by Arab states to deny Jewish historical claims to Jerusalem. It was submitted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Sudan – 26 countries supported the proposal, 24 abstained and only 6 voted against it, including the UK and USA.

However, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has rebuffed these attempts to deny a historic Jewish connection to Jerusalem. “In the Torah, Jerusalem is the capital of King David, where Solomon built the Temple and placed the Ark of the Covenant,” Bokova said. “To deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justifies its inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List,” she added.

Backing her stance, in a meeting last March with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also reaffirmed his recognition of Judaism’s historic ties to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Before the remarks in March, the U.N. chief had said on Israeli radio, “It is completely clear the Temple which the Romans destroyed in Jerusalem was a Jewish Temple.

Source: Jewish News Service; Breaking Christian News

Bible Study: Zechariah 2:8

JULY PRAY WIDER that God will be glorified in this situation and that the proposed resolution, put forward by Arab States seeking to deny Israel any historic right to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, will be totally rebuffed. Give thanks that the the USA and UK both voted against the resolution.