UNESCO adds West Bank site, Lebanese castles to World Heritage List despite Israeli opposition
Summary
UNESCO added the archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank and five castles in southern Lebanon to its World Heritage List despite Israel’s opposition. These sites were also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to ongoing conflicts in the region.Key Facts
- UNESCO inscribed Sebastia and five Lebanese castles on its World Heritage List during a meeting in South Korea.
- Israel opposed the decision and asked UNESCO to reject the nominations, calling them a misuse of cultural heritage.
- Sebastia is an archaeological site near Nablus, linked to the ancient biblical Kingdom of Israel, with remains from the Iron Age to Islamic periods.
- The Palestinian delegation first nominated Sebastia for World Heritage status in 2012 to help protect the site.
- Israel does not recognize a Palestinian state and is planning land expropriations near Sebastia amid settler violence concerns.
- The five castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region show architectural influences from Crusader, Ayyubid, and Mamluk periods.
- Beaufort Castle, one of the listed castles, was seized by Israeli forces during a deep military operation in Lebanon in 2026.
- Israel left UNESCO in 2019, accusing the organization of bias and downplaying its historic ties to the area.
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