UN committee adds West Bank site and Lebanese castles to World Heritage list

Key Points:

• A UN committee voted to inscribe the West Bank archaeological site of Sebastia and five castles in southern Lebanon as World Heritage sites, despite objections from Israel, which called the nominations politically motivated.
• Sebastia, identified as ancient Samaria and significant for multiple historical periods, was nominated by the Palestinian delegation to help preserve the site amid Israeli control and development pressures.
• The five castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region were recognized for their diverse architectural heritage spanning nearly nine centuries, though Israel criticized the designation due to alleged Hezbollah military use of Beaufort Castle.
• Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, accusing it of bias, and condemned the Palestinian campaign as an attempt to erase Jewish and Christian history, while Lebanon denied military use of the castles and emphasized their cultural role.
• The UNESCO committee also placed the ancient Lebanese city of Tyre on the list of World Heritage sites in danger, reflecting ongoing regional conflicts impacting heritage preservation.