Archive · 24 Jul 2026
UNESCO Adds West Bank and Lebanese Sites to Heritage Lists
UNESCO, a part of the United Nations, recently added two important historical places to its special lists.
One is Sebastia, an old town in the West Bank, and the other is five castles in Lebanon.
These places are now recognized as very important for the world's history and culture.
However, Israel, which controls the West Bank, disagrees with this decision.
They say the Palestinian group that suggested Sebastia is trying to make the site look like it's in danger to get special status.
Israel also says that one of the castles in Lebanon is being used by a group called Hezbollah for military purposes, but UNESCO did not comment on this.
Despite these disagreements, UNESCO decided to add these sites to its lists to help protect them for future generations.
UNESCO added Sebastia in the West Bank and five Lebanese castles to the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The decision was made despite objections from Israel, which accused the Palestinian delegation of politicizing the heritage site.
Sebastia is identified as ancient Samaria, with remains from various historical periods and significance to both Christian and Islamic traditions.
Israel alleges that Hezbollah has militarized Beaufort Castle in Lebanon, but UNESCO declined to comment on these claims.
The UNESCO committee also placed Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon, on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
- Who
- UNESCO committee, Palestinian delegation, Israeli Foreign Ministry, Hezbollah
- What
- UNESCO voted to inscribe Sebastia in the West Bank and five castles in Lebanon as World Heritage sites despite Israeli objections
- When
- The decision was made on Friday at a UNESCO meeting in Busan, South Korea
- Where
- Sebastia in the West Bank and the Mount Amel region in southern Lebanon
- Why
- To preserve the sites' cultural heritage and recognize their historical significance, despite political controversies
Palestinian and Lebanese Perspective
Israeli Perspective
Nominations for World Heritage Status
Palestinian and Lebanese Perspective
The Palestinian delegation argues that World Heritage status is necessary to preserve the largely undeveloped site of Sebastia, which remains under Israeli control and requires further conservation despite attracting tourists.
Israeli Perspective
Israel accuses the Palestinian delegation of waging a 'hostile, one-sided campaign' at UNESCO by falsely portraying Sebastia as an area facing an emergency, describing the move as a political attempt to 'erase the site's profound, well-documented Jewish and Christian history.'
Hezbollah's Use of Beaufort Castle
Palestinian and Lebanese Perspective
No direct comment from UNESCO or Lebanon on Israel's allegations.
Israeli Perspective
Israel alleges that Hezbollah has turned Beaufort Castle into a military stronghold by building tunnels beneath the site and launching rockets from the area, accusing UNESCO of ignoring these developments.
- Location of Sebastia
- About 10 kilometers northwest of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
- Historical Significance of Sebastia
- Identified as ancient Samaria, capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel, with remains from the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods
- UNESCO Meeting Location
- Busan, South Korea
- Number of Castles in Lebanon's Nomination
- Five castles in the Mount Amel region
- UNESCO's Decision
- Placed Sebastia and the five Lebanese castles on both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Israel's UNESCO Status
- Withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, accusing the organization of bias and downplaying its historical ties to the Holy Land
- Additional Site Listed
- Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon, was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
