UNESCO passes six resolutions against Israel

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A United Nations cultural body passed six anti-Israel resolutions.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, on Friday passed the resolutions at a meeting in Paris of its executive committee.

Among the resolutions was one condemning Israel for cancelling at the last minute a visit of UNESCO inspectors to look at preservation work at 18 sites in the old city of Jerusalem. The visit was canceled after Palestinian Authority officials said they would take the delegation to visit the Temple Mount and to meet with politicians, effectively politicizing the visit, according to Israel.

Other resolutions condemned Israel’s work at the Mugrabi Bridge at the Temple Mount Plaza, and naming Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs as Israeli national heritage sites.

Russia and France backed all of the resolutions, and the United States opposed all of them, Britain and Italy abstained in the votes.

UNESCO was the first United Nations body to accept “Palestine” as a member.