Israel has complained to UNESCO about a symposium on Jerusalem held under its auspices that was organized by pro-Palestinian groups.
The March 15-17 conference was organized by the Forum for Citizens of the Mediterranean, a group backed by pro-Palestinian French groups.
In its final declaration issued this week, the conference claimed that Israel held too much sway over Jerusalem’s fate.
“Throughout this conference, we have tried to change the balance of power [over Jerusalem], by recognizing the legitimacy of the weak in the face of the policy of a fait accompli,” the declaration stated.
A source at the Israeli Embassy here said the conference was biased, adding that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had been tricked into giving the gathering its support.
“What we object to is that there was an attempt to transfer UNESCO to the political arena, which is contrary to its mission. It was a clear-out political conference on a sensitive issue,” the embassy source said.
“It brings us back to the years when relations with UNESCO were marred by its anti-Israel position,” the source said, adding that a complaint had been lodged with UNESCO Director General Federico Mayor through “internal channels.”
A UNESCO spokeswoman said the U.N. organization had merely lent a conference hall for the forum, something it often does for nongovernmental organizations.
At the conference, Salim Tamari, a former negotiator in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, presented the Palestinian position.
He said interim measures should be adopted to protect Palestinian rights in Jerusalem because discussions with Israel about the final status of the city could drag on for years, allowing Israel to use the time to strengthen its hold on the city.
The list of invited guests to the conference included former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban and Israel Gat, who is in charge of international affairs for the Labor Party.
But they stayed away to protest what they felt was the meeting’s bias.
The embassy source said several Israelis from the “left and ultraleft” had participated in the meeting.
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