UNESCO designates Lebanon's Beaufort Castle, West Bank's Sebastia as World Heritage Sites in Danger

Lead

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has added several sites in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank to its List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, following its 48th session in Busan, South Korea. The designations affect Tyre and Mount Amel Castles in southern Lebanon, as well as Sebastia in the West Bank, with the committee citing threats from armed conflict, development, and environmental pressures.

The decisions have drawn contrasting responses: Palestinian and Lebanese officials welcomed the listings, expressing hope they would protect the sites, while Israel denounced the move as baseless and politicized.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the UNESCO decisions varied in focus across outlets. Al Jazeera emphasized threats to Sebastia from Israeli occupation and land seizures, quoting Palestinian officials who welcomed the decision. The Jerusalem Post centered its coverage on Israel's rejection of the designations, framing them as politically motivated. France 24 focused on the damage sustained by Tyre during recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, noting that the Lebanese government had requested the listing. AllAfrica provided a broader overview, reporting that UNESCO had added six sites to the danger list, including Mount Amel Castles, Sebastia, and Tyre, and noting threats from armed conflict, insecurity, and environmental pressures.

Key Claims

Tyre and Mount Amel Castles: Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in Danger, as reported by France 24 and the Jerusalem Post. UNESCO stated that the site "has been directly hit and has sustained damage," with its state of conservation causing growing concern. The organisation noted that the Lebanese government had requested the inclusion. Tyre was first placed on the UNESCO heritage list in 1984 and contains Roman-era archaeological remains, including a triumphal arch and a hippodrome. The coastal city, located about 80 kilometers south of Beirut and barely 20 kilometers from the Israeli border, was caught up in recent months in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with tens of thousands of residents fleeing after Israeli evacuation orders, though most have since returned.

Mount Amel Castles, a collection of five fortresses in southern Lebanon spanning the Crusader, Islamic, and Ottoman periods, were also added to the danger list, as reported by AllAfrica and the Jerusalem Post. According to UNESCO, the ongoing conflict directly jeopardizes the site's conservation and requires urgent intervention. The castles had already been under enhanced protection under international humanitarian law.

Sebastia: Sebastia, a 3,000-year-old site in the occupied West Bank, was added to both the World Heritage list and the List of World Heritage in Danger, as reported by Al Jazeera. The site faces threats as Israel intensifies plans for land seizures and settlement expansions. Palestinian officials welcomed the decision, hoping it would prevent Israel from extending control over the village and its archaeological site. Nizar Kayed, deputy mayor of Sebastia, told Reuters that the decision came after a confiscation order issued by Israeli authorities, which he said "destroys this area from a cultural and historical standpoint and also destroys people's livelihoods." Residents of the nearby Palestinian village depend on tourism for their livelihoods and face land confiscations after Israeli authorities announced a plan to seize about 180 hectares at and around the archaeological site, citing "preservation and development."

Broader UNESCO Actions: AllAfrica reported that UNESCO added six sites to its List of World Heritage in Danger at the Busan meeting. Three newly inscribed sites were granted emergency protection, including Mount Amel Castles, Sebastia, and South Sudan's Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, which hosts the world's largest known terrestrial mammal migration. UNESCO said the emergency procedure reflects a world increasingly shaped by armed conflict, climate change, and other crises posing "serious threats" to irreplaceable cultural and natural heritage.

Perspectives

Palestinian and Lebanese Officials: Palestinian officials welcomed the UNESCO decision on Sebastia, expressing hope it would help preserve the ancient site and prevent Israeli control. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame welcomed the listing of Tyre, saying it would "focus the attention and concern of UNESCO and member states on a site of great importance in the history of a region currently witnessing conflicts."

Israeli Government: Israel has denounced the UNESCO decisions, describing them as baseless and politicized, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Al Jazeera also reported that Israel denounced the decision as political.