Shahin Receives UNESCO Representative and Affirms Commitment to Protecting Palestinian Heritage and Education

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shahin received UNESCO Representative to the State of Palestine and Head of its Ramallah Office, Karim Hendili, congratulating him on assuming his duties and reaffirming Palestine’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with UNESCO.

Shahin stressed the importance of enabling UN agencies to carry out their mandates freely despite restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities. She warned of Israeli policies aimed at altering realities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, through the appropriation of Palestinian land, property, and cultural heritage, as well as ongoing excavations and settlement expansion under the guise of heritage preservation.

The Minister also highlighted escalating violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites, efforts to alter Jerusalem’s historical and cultural character, and the challenges facing Palestinian education, particularly in Jerusalem. The meeting further addressed the devastating impact of the war on Gaza on the education and heritage sectors, emphasizing the need for stronger international support for reconstruction and the protection of Palestinian heritage.

Shahin praised UNESCO’s efforts, particularly its monitoring mission to the Ibrahimi Mosque and Hebron’s Old City. For his part, Hendili reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Palestinian institutions and stressed the importance of continued international efforts to safeguard Palestinian cultural heritage and identity in accordance with international law.