UNESCO HEAD IRINA BOKOVA RECEIVED ‘DEATH THREATS’ AFTER CRITICISING RESOLUTIONS IGNORING JEWISH TIES TO JERUSALEM'S HOLY SITES

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO chief Irina Bokova has received "death threats" after expressing reservations about Arab-backed resolutions on the holy sites in Jerusalem, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations organisation said on Monday, 17th of October.

“The director general has received death threats and her protection has had to be reinforced,” Carmel Shama-Cohen told Israeli public radio.

“These threats were made after her criticism" of two resolutions adopted last week at committee stage ahead of a final vote, Cohen said, accusing Arab countries of "appalling conduct" over the drafts.

On Thursday, after the committee adopted two draft resolutions on "occupied Palestine" (24 votes for, 6 against and 28 abstentions), Israel announced that it suspended cooperation with UNESCO, AFP says. Its outrage was triggered by texts about Temple Mount in East Jerusalem - Palestinian part of the city occupied in 1967 and then annexed by Israel. The UN believes the annexation was illegal.

Temple Mount is the third holiest site of Islam and the holiest place for Jews. It is under the administration of Jordan but Israel controls all access roads to it. On the day of the vote, Mrs Bokova distanced herself from the resolutions in a statement, saying “… The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city, “ AFP added.