MPs from 17 countries denounce UNESCO resolution - Yori Yalon, Zeev Klein and Israel Hayom Staff

by Yori Yalon, Zeev Klein and Israel Hayom Staff

Nineteen lawmakers sign declaration opposing U.N. body's resolution denying Jewish link to the Temple Mount, Western Wall in Jerusalem • The MPs are in Israel to attend the 5th Israel Allies Foundation Jerusalem Chairman's Conference.

MPs from around the world present Deputy Minister Michael Oren, center, with a declaration against UNESCO's Jerusalem resolution | Photo credit: Avi Hayon

Lawmakers from 17 different countries signed a declaration Thursday against the controversial UNESCO resolution last week and called for international recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided and eternal capital of Israel. 

The UNESCO resolution rejects any Jewish link to the Temple Mount and Western Wall in Jerusalem. 

In the declaration, the 19 MPs said that "the U.N. resolution is disconnected from reality and is incorrect. We will work toward the international recognition of Jerusalem, as the undivided, eternal capital of the State of Israel." 

The parliamentarians presented the declaration to Deputy Minister Michael Oren, who delivered it to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Oren called the UNESCO resolution "unacceptable." He said it "must be fought against every way possible. The signing of the declaration by MPs from all over the world against UNESCO is one of the steps we will take against this atrocious decision. We will continue to emphasize the eternal connection between the Jewish people and our eternal capital for ever and ever, which no body in the world, and certainly not UNESCO, can break." 

The visiting lawmakers are from countries, such as the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Switzerland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Malawi, South Africa, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Chile. They are in Israel for the 5th Israel Allies Foundation Jerusalem Chairman's Conference. The conference is sponsored by the World Jewish Congress and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and held at Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem. 

According to the Israel Allies Foundation website, "The foundation is dedicated to the purpose of promoting communication and information sharing between parliamentarians and legislators the world over who share a belief that the State of Israel has the right to exist in peace within secure borders" and to bringing "a unified voice on issues and legislation regarding Israel worldwide." 

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon also spoke out against the UNESCO resolution.

"Jerusalem is mentioned 670 times in the Bible, and we do not need anyone's approval. The tradition of our mothers and fathers keeps us here; we have a connection to Israel," he said.

Yori Yalon, Zeev Klein and Israel Hayom Staff

Source:  http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=37299

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