UNESCO designates Tomb of the Patriarchs as Palestinian heritage site

UNESCO has recognized the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, West Bank, as a Palestinian World Heritage site, sparking strong opposition from Israel. The decision was made at a committee meeting in Krakow, with 12 member states voting in favor, 3 against, and 6 abstentions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused UNESCO of falsifying history. The site, also known as the Sanctuary of Abraham or Ibrahimi Mosque, is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. It was the scene of the 1994 Hebron massacre, where an Israeli settler killed over 60 Palestinian worshippers. Following the massacre, Hebron was divided into Israeli and Palestinian sectors, with the Old City and the Tomb designated as shared zones. The UNESCO resolution also placed the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.