Amman, July 24 (Petra)-- The Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs has welcomed the decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to retain the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the List of World Heritage in Danger, describing the move as a renewed commitment by the international community to safeguarding the city's cultural and human heritage.

The committee said the decision reaffirms international recognition of the serious threats facing Jerusalem's historic and cultural identity as a result of ongoing Israeli occupation policies and measures.

Secretary-General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs, Abdullah Kanaan, said the decision reflects the reality that the challenges facing the Old City extend beyond the preservation of archaeological sites and historic landmarks, amounting instead to a systematic targeting of Jerusalem's cultural, religious and civilizational identity.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Kanaan said such actions violate international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

He stressed that the continued listing of the Old City of Jerusalem as a World Heritage site in danger places greater responsibility on the international community, particularly UNESCO, to closely monitor conditions in the city, document violations affecting its historical and religious landmarks, and prevent unilateral measures aimed at altering its character or erasing its authentic cultural heritage.

Kanaan added that successive international resolutions on Jerusalem, including those adopted by UNESCO, affirm the illegality of all measures taken by the Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied city. He emphasized that preserving Jerusalem's heritage goes beyond protecting monuments and archaeological sites to include safeguarding its historical and cultural identity, as well as its Arab, Islamic and Christian human presence.

He also praised member states that supported retaining the Old City and its Walls on the endangered heritage list, calling for the decision to be translated into concrete actions that strengthen protection of the city and its holy sites, ensure respect for international resolutions, and halt violations threatening its unique historical and spiritual significance.

The Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs reaffirmed that the Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, remains a cornerstone in preserving the city's identity, protecting its holy places and cultural heritage, and confronting attempts to alter its historical and legal status in line with international legitimacy and relevant United Nations resolutions.

//Petra// MF