The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially approved on Friday all the resolutions announced during its 201st session including the resolutions of “Occupied Palestine” and the “Educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories” which denounce the Israeli violations of the Palestinian cultural heritage.

22 countries voted in favor of a resolution stipulating that Israel occupies Jerusalem and has no right in the Old City, 10 countries voted against while 23 countries abstained.

The UNESCO Executive Board expressed regret at the Israeli authorities’ refusal to stop their ongoing excavations and illegal projects and practices in Jerusalem especially in the Old City.

The Board condemned Israel’s rejection of appointing a permanent representative of the UNESCO in Jerusalem to provide information on all aspects of the UNESCO’s areas of concern on a regular basis.

The Board stressed the urgent need to send the UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Old City of Jerusalem.

It decided to include these issues in the agenda of its 202nd session within the resolution of “Occupied Palestine”.