PA Minister of Tourism claims Israel attacks Palestinian cultural heritage sites
Headline: “Ma'ay'a meets with the mayor of Milan, Italy, and participates in the Conference of Ministers of Cultural Heritage and Tourism”
“In Milan, Italy, the International Conference of Ministers of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (sic., International Conference of Ministers of Culture) opened, taking place on the sidelines of the Expo Milano exhibition, with the participation of ministers from more than 60 countries throughout the world, including Palestine. [Palestine was represented by] a delegation headed by [PA] Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Ma'ay'a.
In her speech, Ma’ay’a demanded that the international community and international organizations fulfill their obligation in order to stop the repeated Israeli attacks against cultural heritage sites. She emphasized that these attacks, which are carried out as part of the occupation of our land and resources in addition to the continued building of the racist separation fence and settlements, constitute a clear violation of all the international conventions and treaties, which protect cultural heritage in times of war and conflict…
Ma’ay’a updated the ministers regarding the acts of destruction against Jerusalem, Hebron, and other cities. She noted that the occupation forces carry out dozens of excavations, mine tunnels, and are changing many of the landmarks of the holy city. This is in addition to the crimes perpetrated by Israel against cultural heritage during its attack against Palestinian cities in 2002 (i.e., Operation Defensive Shield), when it destroyed dozens of important sites in Nablus, Gaza, Bethlehem, Salfit, and Jenin.”
Operation Defensive Shield - a large Israeli military operation in April 2002 in response to the many suicide bombings during PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). Israel put Arafat under siege and invaded six of the largest West Bank cities in an attempt to destroy the terror infrastructure.
“In Milan, Italy, the International Conference of Ministers of Cultural Heritage and Tourism (sic., International Conference of Ministers of Culture) opened, taking place on the sidelines of the Expo Milano exhibition, with the participation of ministers from more than 60 countries throughout the world, including Palestine. [Palestine was represented by] a delegation headed by [PA] Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Ma'ay'a.
In her speech, Ma’ay’a demanded that the international community and international organizations fulfill their obligation in order to stop the repeated Israeli attacks against cultural heritage sites. She emphasized that these attacks, which are carried out as part of the occupation of our land and resources in addition to the continued building of the racist separation fence and settlements, constitute a clear violation of all the international conventions and treaties, which protect cultural heritage in times of war and conflict…
Ma’ay’a updated the ministers regarding the acts of destruction against Jerusalem, Hebron, and other cities. She noted that the occupation forces carry out dozens of excavations, mine tunnels, and are changing many of the landmarks of the holy city. This is in addition to the crimes perpetrated by Israel against cultural heritage during its attack against Palestinian cities in 2002 (i.e., Operation Defensive Shield), when it destroyed dozens of important sites in Nablus, Gaza, Bethlehem, Salfit, and Jenin.”
Operation Defensive Shield - a large Israeli military operation in April 2002 in response to the many suicide bombings during PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). Israel put Arafat under siege and invaded six of the largest West Bank cities in an attempt to destroy the terror infrastructure.