Nomination Files

Bethlehem on the World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee has inscribed during its 36th Session held in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (26 June to 4 July), Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem, Palestine on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger List. The secret voting of 13 to 6 and 2 abstentions took place on Friday, June 29, 2012.

The nomination document, which was prepared at Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation (CCHP) in Bethlehem, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Bethlehem Municipality was first submitted to the World Heritage Convention on January 27, 2011, but its evaluation was delayed until Palestine is acknowledged as a State Party by UN; the recognition of Palestine was achieved in October 2011.

The submission of Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route; first document submitted by Palestine to the World Heritage Committee after the recognition of World Heritage Committee of the outstanding universal value of the Palestinian cultural and natural heritage and called for its protection in its 26th session held in Budapest in 2002, and the submission of the Palestinian tentative list; Inventory of Cultural and Natural Heritage Resources of Outstanding Universal Value in Palestine in 2005.

Battir a World Heritage Site

During its 38th Session held in Al-Doha - Qattar, The World Heritage Committee has inscribed Palestine; Land of Olives and Vines – the Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir on UNESCO’s World Heritage endangered List. 11 countries were in favor of listing Battir whereas 3 countries were against the enlisting and 7 countries refrained on voting. Battir is the second site that has been enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site after the full membership of Palestine in the UNESCO. Battir's inscription came after Bethlehem- the birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the pilgrimage route in 2012.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, CCHP has worked on preparing the nomination file in 2011.

 

 

"THE TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE THAT EXISTS FROM PREVIOUS GENERATIONS PROVIDES A LINK BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THEIR PAST"