34 cultural sites placed under “provisional enhanced protection” by Unesco

With the country’s heritage under threat from Israeli bombardment, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the decision, which ” qualifies any attack on archaeological sites as a war crime “.

L’Unesco announced on Monday that it was placing under ” provisional reinforced protection “34 cultural sites in Lebanon threatened by Israeli bombingand grant emergency financial assistance to save heritage of this country. These sites ” now enjoy the highest level of immunity from attack and military use “according to a press release from theUN dedicated to science, culture and education.

Failure to comply with these clauses would constitute a serious breach of the 1954 Hague Convention. (for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, NDLR) and would open the possibility of prosecution “warns Unesco. Israel continues its deadly strikesin open warfare since september 23rd against the Lebanese Shiite Islamist movement Hezbollah.

A petition from the world of culture

Among the properties listed are the archaeological sites of Baalbek and Tyrlisted in the world heritageand ” near which strikes have been observed recently “according to Unesco. Other sites and monuments in cities thousands of years old are also affected, such as Saïda, Anjar, the Beiteddine Palace and the National Museum of Beirut.

A victory for the law and a resounding slap in the face for the Israeli enemy, which continues its destructive attacks on Lebanon.

Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon

This decision comes after Monday’s ” extraordinary session “of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, at the request of Lebanon, in the Unesco premises in Paris. This also follows a petition sent to Unesco by 300 leading figures from the world of culture, including archaeologists and academics, who on Sunday called on the institution to guarantee the protection of Lebanon’s heritage.

“A powerful deterrent

Reacting to Unesco’s decision, the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati hailed in a statement ” a victory for the law and a resounding slap in the face for the Israeli enemy, which continues its destructive attacks on Lebanon”. “. Before adding: ” This ruling is a powerful deterrent to the Israeli enemy, since it qualifies any attack on archaeological sites as a war crime, justifying the prosecution of those responsible before international courts. “.

For her part, the organization’s general manager Audrey Azoulay declared: ” Unesco has a deep and long-standing cooperation with Lebanon. We will spare no effort to provide all the expertise and assistance needed to protect its exceptional heritage. “.

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