Join the International Legal Forum (ILF) and StandWithUs in calling upon the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to recognize the deep historic, cultural and religious connection between the Jewish people and holy sites in the land of Israel.
The recent UNESCO resolution passed on April 15, 2016, follows a line of insulting resolutions which completely ignore and disregard the Temple Mount as also being an ancestral holy site for the Jewish people/religion for over 3,000 years.
UNESCO was created with the clear mandate to build networks among nations and intercultural understanding by protecting heritage and supporting cultural diversity. In accordance with these values, we call upon UNESCO to recognize immediately the deep historic and religious connection between the Temple Mount and Judaism.
According to the Jewish religion, the Temple Mount is the holiest site in the world to the Jewish people. Throughout history, Jews all over the world have prayed facing the Temple Mount. According to Jewish tradition, the world was created from the Foundation Stone located on the Temple Mount, and the two Jewish Temples stood on the Temple Mount at two different times in history (an internationally and historical known and accepted axiom, backed by numerous archaeological findings).
By UNESCO deliberately ignoring the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, UNESCO violates the basic human rights of Jews everywhere, as well as those of other religions whose beliefs and heritage include the spiritual and historical connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.
Moreover, UNESCO is obligated to promote and educate about religious tolerance. UNESCO’s denying the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and its holy sites violates UNESCO’s own mandate by erasing the heritage of millions of people and violating their religious and cultural rights. It also hurts any prospect of peace and vicariously supports a radical ideology that denies the Jewish connection to the land of Israel and its holy sites. This type of religious intolerance effectively leads to violence around the world.
It should be emphasized that this petition does not wish to question or deny any other culture or religion’s connection to this site. We recognize UNESCO’s responsibility to promote culture and religious diversity by respecting the heritage of all nations. Therefore, we call upon UNESCO immediately to recognize the deep historic and religious Jewish connection as well. It is our belief that the Temple Mount, being a significant holy site for multiple religions, can exemplify UNESCO’s principle of inclusiveness, uniting nations, and respecting diversity, instead of omitting and dividing people of different faiths and narratives.
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