Akko in Israel is just one important World Heritage Site in the Middle East region that could suffer from the United States’ decision to withhold funding to UNESCO following the admittance of Palestine as a member state.
Department of State spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that the United States will “refrain from making contributions to UNESCO as a result of the organization’s vote to admit Palestine as a member state.
Earlier this year this Palestinian Authority submitted a bid to become part of the United Nations – a bid that the United States is firmly opposed to and has threatened to veto if the UN Security Council approves. One hundred and seven UNESCO members voted to admit the Palestinian Authority, 14 opposed, including Israel and the United States, and 52 member countries abstained from voting.
Nuland said that the UNESCO vote is “regrettable, premature, and undermines our shared goal of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
The United States contributes 22% of UNESCO’s budget and will withhold the pending November payment of $60 million, according to CNN. Slashing such a chunk of the organization’s funding could have far-reaching consequences for no fewer than 50 world heritage sites throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean region, including at least 6 in Israel.
After the vote, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expressed concern for UNESCO’s financial stability. She said, “I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that UNESCO does not suffer unduly.” And Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General said that it will be necessary to find practical solutions to the U.S. withholding.
UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information, according to their website. The preservation of World Heritage Sites, which include threatened natural sanctuaries, falls under their purview.
Without a large chunk of their budget, it remains to be seen how well the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Middle East region will fare. Meanwhile, a Facebook group has already been started to “Raise 60 Million Dollars for UNESCO – The Cost of Democracy.”
Following is a list of important sites in the Middle East that rely in part on U.S. funding, via Wikipedia. Will they survive?
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Al Qal’a of Beni Hammad | M’Sila Province, Algeria | |||||
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Djémila | Sétif Province, Algeria | |||||
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Kasbah of Algiers | Algiers Province, Algeria | |||||
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M’zab Valley | Ghardaïa Province, Algeria | |||||
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Tassili n’Ajjer | Illizi Province and Tamanrasset Province, Algeria | |||||
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Timgad | Batna Province, Algeria | |||||
| Tipaza | Tipaza Province, Algeria | ||||||
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Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun | Northern Governorate, Bahrain | |||||
| Abu Mena | Alexandria Governorate, Egypt | ||||||
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Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis | Luxor Governorate, Egypt | |||||
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Historic Cairo | Cairo Governorate, Egypt | |||||
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Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur | Giza Governorate, Egypt | ] | ||||
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Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae | Aswan Governorate, Egypt | |||||
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Saint Catherine Area | South Sinai Governorate, Egypt | |||||
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Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) | Faiyum Governorate, Egypt | |||||
| — | Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat) | Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq | |||||
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Hatra | Ninawa Governorate, Iraq | |||||
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Samarra Archaeological City | Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq | |||||
| The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls | Jerusalem | ||||||
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Petra | Ma’an Governorate, Jordan | |||||
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Qasr Amra | Zarqa Governorate, Jordan | |||||
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Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa’a) | Madaba Governorate, Jordan | |||||
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Wadi Rum Protected Area | Faiyum Governorate, Jordan | |||||
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Anjar | Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon | |||||
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Baalbek | Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon | |||||
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Byblos | Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon | |||||
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Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab) | North Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon | |||||
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Tyre | South Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon | |||||
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Archaeological Site of Cyrene | Jabal al Akhdar, Libya | |||||
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Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna | Khoms, Libya | |||||
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Archaeological Site of Sabratha | Zawiya District, Libya | |||||
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Old Town of Ghadamès | Nalut District, Libya | |||||
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Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus | Fezzan, Libya | |||||
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Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti,Tichitt and Oualata | Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt,and Oualata, Mauritania | |||||
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Banc d’Arguin National Park | Nouadhibou and Azefal, Mauritania | |||||
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Archaeological Site of Volubilis | Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco | |||||
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Historic City of Meknes | Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco | |||||
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Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou | Souss-Massa-Draâ, Morocco | |||||
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Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) | Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco | |||||
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Medina of Fez | Fez, Morocco | |||||
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Medina of Marrakesh | Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco | ] | ||||
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Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) | Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco | |||||
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Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) | Doukkala-Abda, Morocco | |||||
| — | Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman | Sharqiyah and Batinah Regions, Oman | |||||
| — | Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn | Ad Dhahirah Region, Oman | |||||
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Bahla Fort | Ad Dakhiliyah Region, Oman | |||||
| — | Land of Frankincense | Dhofar Governorate, Oman | |||||
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Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih) | Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia | |||||
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At-Turaif District in ad-Dir’iyah | Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia | |||||
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Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe | River Nile State, Sudan | |||||
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Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region | Northern State, Sudan | |||||
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Ancient City of Aleppo | Aleppo Governorate, Syria | |||||
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Ancient City of Bosra | Daraa Governorate, Syria | |||||
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Ancient City of Damascus | Damascus Governorate, Syria | |||||
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Ancient Villages of Northern Syria | Syria | |||||
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Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din | Homs and Latakia Governorates, Syria | |||||
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Site of Palmyra | Homs Governorate, Syria | |||||
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Amphitheatre of El Jem | Mahdia Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Archaeological Site of Carthage | Tunis Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Dougga / Thugga | Béja Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Ichkeul National Park | Bizerte Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Kairouan | Kairouan Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Medina of Sousse | Sousse Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Medina of Tunis | Tunis Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis | Nabeul Governorate, Tunisia | |||||
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Historic Town of Zabid | Al Hudaydah Governorate, Yemen | |||||
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Old City of Sana’a | Sana Governorate, Yemen | |||||
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Old Walled City of Shibam | Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen | |||||
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Socotra Archipelago | Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen |
World Heritage Sites in the Middle East:
Environmental Concerns Greet Wadi Rum World Heritage Status
BBC Series Celebrates UNESCO “Heritage Heroes”
UNESCO Urges Ethiopia to Halt Gibe III Dam
No Dimitrios, that is not the intention of this article at all. We’re just stating the facts.
I am Greek I have nothing against the US or the Jewish people BUT we must not forget that unfortunatly the state of Israel is under Zionist control as is the US. Rothchild/Zionism to be exact and the Roths aren’t even Jewish. We all know their crazy agenda to create a much much bigger Israel like the Israel that SUPPOSEDLY existed in the times of Kind Solomon or David -I forget-. That means allot of genoside and allot of land grabbing. The Palestinians are only the begining! So this article is trying to tell us that we should really be angry at the Palestinians for not choosing to go into the night without resistance because …of what exactly? Because Israel’s bully -meaning the Federal Reserve Bank Rothchild owned US- will not give UNESCO any money anymore? REALLY? …..REALLY?
I am an American and we are broke. We have had to tighten our belts during these hard times and cut back on paying for everything. So should the rest of the world. If the rest of the world wants to presserve these “special” places then work with those countries where the sites are located. The host countries should take care of them as sovereign nations. The world has complained for years that we Americans have meddled too much in world affairs. Well, we have spent alot of blood and treasure for the causes of others and gotten just more complaints. Its finally time. The world is yours. Good luck.
UNESCO also funds water projects, research and innovation. It’s not just about saving old castles from ruin.
That’s a good point Karin.
@Jamshid: I agree that every country has a responsibility to protect their heritage sites, but most – especially the poorer ones – are likely to prioritize other concerns, namely finding jobs or food. I don’t want to overstate the United States’ importance in the region – but losing 22% of any budget is substantial no?
@atm: You have a good point, although it is always tricky to get the right one with enough but not too much detail. My focus is definitely on the heritage sites though, and not on peace. I’m afraid I can’t really comment on how Palestinian membership will affect peace in the region, although I’ve seen some interesting commentary in the blogosphere.
your title is misleading. you are talking on how the US’s reaction to this vote will affect UNESCO.
can you please explain on how Palestinian membership in UNESCO will negativly affect peace in the region. I beleive this is nothing more than a childish move by the US, israel and canada
Tafline,I find in your nice article you think USA are more important than it might be, so in your opinion we have to afraid of any act of this country? it acts in its own national interest.
it is obvious that usa has a big role in UNESCO budget with its 6553$ annually. also it may encourage USA allay to do the same, so it may be a real threat for this un organisation.
It is no doubt about USA roles.
I think every country has its responsibility to save their heritage site. People of each country are the best and main sources to save their heritage. The middle east governments must rely on its people to solve the region problem, not to wait the other country such as USA to come and do their duties.
The truth is that America does more than its fair share in supporting UNESCO. Time for the rest of the world to cough up the dough to protect world heritage sites.
why not they survive without USA funding? They are their heritage, they must survive them by themselves, as Iran survive their 12 WHS without USA funding for more than 3 decades.Every nation can do it,and must do it.
Jamshid, I’m not sure about this. The US has been giving funding to UNESCO, which has overseen Iran’s numerous World Heritage Sites. So, indirectly that money has been going to Iran. That being said, I agree that UNESCO should be able to find funding elsewhere, including from the member states who voted Palestine in.
And clearly they aren’t. That’s why world heritage sites are threatened. It’s about values and responsibility to heritage sites of the world, no matter where. If Iran thought a little harder about protecting its heritage it might be in a better position today, politically and economically.
I know that it’s easy for people of the world to dump on America, but in my eyes, Americans are big winners*. They give, and then give more.
*I am not American!
Exactly! Other countries need to step up to the plate. Hopefully this will be incentive to do so, and that the opposite won’t happen – total neglect.