UNESCO has designated the Sebastia archaeological site in the West Bank and five castles in Lebanon as World Heritage sites, also placing them on its endangered list due to regional conflicts. The decision, made at a meeting in South Korea, was welcomed by Palestinian officials as a protective measure against Israeli land seizure. Israel strongly objected, calling the move a "weaponization of cultural heritage" and an attempt to erase Jewish history at the sites.
UNESCO World Heritage designations
- ▪UNESCO designated the archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank and five castles in Lebanon's Mount Amel area as World Heritage sites
- ▪The designated sites were also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger under an emergency procedure, citing ongoing regional conflicts
- ▪The decision was made at a UNESCO committee meeting in Busan, South Korea, on or around July 24, 2026
Sebastia archaeological site
- ▪Sebastia is a hilltop town northwest of Nablus, identified as ancient Samaria, the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel
- ▪The site's archaeological remains span the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods, and tradition holds it is the burial place of John the Baptist
- ▪The Palestinian delegation first submitted Sebastia's nomination to UNESCO in 2012, arguing it needed preservation from Israeli control
Lebanese Mount Amel castles
- ▪The five designated castles in Lebanon's Mount Amel region have a layered architectural heritage combining Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and local influences
- ▪The designated Lebanese sites include Beaufort Castle, which Israeli forces seized in May 2026
- ▪Lebanon's culture ministry said Israeli bombardment had destroyed one of the five nominated castles, Shamaa Castle
Israeli objections to nominations
- ▪Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, accusing the organization of being biased against it, and now attends meetings only as an observer
- ▪Israel accused Hezbollah of turning Beaufort Castle into a military stronghold by building tunnels and launching rockets from the area
- ▪Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated the UNESCO decision was part of a Palestinian effort to obscure Jewish ties to the land
- ▪Israel's Foreign Ministry urged UNESCO to reject the nominations, calling them a "weaponization of cultural heritage."
Palestinian delegation statements
- ▪The designation comes as Israel plans to seize about 1,800 dunams (445 acres) of land at the Sebastia site to develop the area
- ▪A Palestinian delegate said the designation rewards Sebastia's residents for protecting the site despite "occupation, restrictions, and repeated attempts to separate them from their own heritage."
- ▪Palestinian officials welcomed the designation, hoping it would help mobilize international support against Israeli measures at the site
UNESCO evaluation process
- ▪A Lebanese delegate asserted that the nominated castles have been used "only for cultural and tourism purposes" since Israel's 2000 withdrawal
- ▪UNESCO stated that all nominations are evaluated under the same criteria and that it does not take positions on political disputes
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