State of Conservation
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town
(Palestine)
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
- Management systems/ management plan
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
The State Party outlined a series of threats in the nomination file, but none were specified by the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription
Corrective Measures for the property
Draft submitted by the State Party; to be reviewed by the Advisory Bodies once a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value is approved
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Not yet established
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2018
Total amount granted: USD 375,400 from the Government of Sweden for physical rehabilitation
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
Requests approved: 1
(from 2018-2018)
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
2018 | Management plan and Conservation Plan for the World ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2018**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018
ON 23 March 2018, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1565/documents/ and reports the following:
- The State Party underlines that it has endeavoured to address Decision 41 COM 8B.1, despite challenging circumstances;
- A proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) is included with the report, as well as suggested corrective measures, including the preparation and implementation of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the property, involving stakeholders and the local community. The report also provides a proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV);
- The State Party expresses concern about the consequences of military occupation, including vandalism, and property damage. There have been unauthorized excavations in Tell Rumeideh, the archaeological site located in buffer zone. The State Party reports that there are five Israeli settlements within the Old Town of Hebron, three within the property and two in the buffer zone. The State Party also indicates that Israel’s Army Minister issued a statement upgrading the status of the Jewish community in Hebron H2 to that of an official settlement, making them eligible to form municipal councils and to receive the same services provided by the Israeli authorities to other West Bank settlements. The State Party has implemented actions and projects to conserve the property, including progress with conservation of Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/the Tomb of Patriarchs, completion of the rehabilitation of the infrastructure on Al-Qasaba Main Street, restoration of the Khreisha building, and restoration of the glass factory – Souk Eskafeyyeh. Work has commenced on a programme for beautification of historic façades, the rehabilitation of Amer palace, and rehabilitation of Hosh Abu-Duraan. Regular maintenance of historic buildings continues, and it is proposed that the Hammam Saidna Ibrahim will be rehabilitated as a visitor centre;
- The State Party also expresses concern at projects, which are not consistent with the OUV of the property, including, in particular, the proposed construction of a neighbourhood for settlers in block No. 34021, Plots 110, and 130, comprising new high-rise buildings of up to 18 metres, which differ from traditional buildings’ form and use concrete and stone, rather than vernacular materials;
- The State Party strongly asserts its commitment to implementing all possible measures to conserve and sustain the property and to enhance the living conditions of the local community.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018
The property was simultaneously inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger through Decision 41 COM 8B.1, in accordance with paragraphs 161 and 162 of the Operational Guidelines, on the basis that the Committee concluded that the property unquestionably justifies criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi), as well as conditions of integrity and authenticity, but is faced with serious threats, which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics for which an immediate action by the World Heritage Committee is needed.
At its 41st session in 2017, the World Heritage Committee did not adopt a proposed SOUV in line with Paragraph 154 of the Operational Guidelines. The State Party has submitted a proposed SOUV with its state of conservation report. As no ICOMOS field visit was possible before inscription and as subsequently ICOMOS has not been able to undertake a mission, it has not been possible to assess the proposed SOUV in terms of its defined attributes. In these circumstances, it is suggested to undertake a meeting with the State Party for coordination and technical advice. This meeting could consider the SOUV, the proposed DSOCR, related corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, and the process for the elaboration of Management Plan.
The efforts of the State Party to begin the preparation of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the property should be commended, as should the conservation works that have been completed or are in progress. Furthermore, on 16 May 2018, a revised International Assistance Request for the funding of preparatory studies for the elaboration of a Management Plan has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre. It will be implemented in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Advisory Bodies.
It is crucial that, as circumstances permit, the processes for managing conservation and development projects at the property should include preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties.
It is regrettable that the situation on the ground has deteriorated since the inscription of the property. Recognising the challenging circumstances at the property, it would nevertheless be desirable that the State Party submit details of all significant current conservation and development projects to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
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Adopted
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Draft Decision
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7A.28
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having considered Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2 and the annex attached to this decision,
- Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
- Decides that the status of Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town relating to the World Heritage List remains unchanged as reflected in Decision 41 COM 8B.1 of the last World Heritage Committee.
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ANNEX
The World Heritage Committee
42nd session of the Committee (42 COM)
- Having considered Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2;
- Recalling Decision 41 COM 8B.1, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017), which did not include a SOUV, and noting that in compliance with Paragraph 154 of the Operational Guidelines, when deciding to inscribe a property on the World Heritage List, guided by the Advisory Bodies, the Committee adopts a SOUV for the property,
- Taking note of a preliminary proposed SOUV contained in the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party,
- Requests the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to work with the State Party in the framework of the International Assistance project on the Management Plan to finalize this SOUV;
- Notes that a proposed Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) was submitted by the State Party, as none was adopted at the 41st session, also notes that no ICOMOS field visit to the property was possible before inscription, and, as the current situation still does not permit any missions, proposes that a meeting be organized for representatives of the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to discuss with the State Party the proposed SOUV, the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), related corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation;
- Decides to consider the examination of a draft SOUV for the property at its 43rd session in 2019;
- Commends the State Party for the actions which are being taken to conserve significant attributes of the Property;
- Welcomes efforts to begin the preparation of a Management Plan, and requests the State Party to work in close coordination with the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Ramallah Office and the Advisory Bodies in the implementation of the International Assistance Request regarding the preparatory studies for the elaboration of a Management Plan for the property;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed information on current conservation and development projects, particularly projects which have potential adverse impact on heritage, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019;
- Also decides to retain Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.