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From the Liveblog of Thursday, October 27, 2016

Syria complains to UNESCO over Israeli Golan digs

27 October 2016, 4:16 pm

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Syria complains to the UN cultural body over alleged Israeli archaeological excavations in the Golan Heights.

The Syrians claim Israel is digging in the village of Bir Ajam in the Quneitra region on the Syria-Israel border. Israel captured the Golan from Syria in 1967.

Illustrative: Smoke rises following an explosion in Syria's Quneitra province as Syrian rebels clash with President Bashar Assad’s forces, seen from the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights in 2014. (AP/Ariel Schalit, File) — Illustrative: Smoke rises following an explosion in Syria’s Quneitra province as Syrian rebels clash with President Bashar Assad’s forces, seen from the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights in 2014. (AP/Ariel Schalit, File)

Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen slams the complaint as ridiculous.

“This ridiculous complaint highlights the cynical use Arab states are making of UNESCO against Israel,” says Shama-Hacohen in a statement.

He notes that there has been widespread destruction of Syria’s archaeological heritage during the civil war.

A March 31, 2016 picture shows the remains of the Temple of Bel's "Cella" in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, which was blown up by Islamic State jihadists. (AFP/Joseph Eid) — A March 31, 2016 picture shows the remains of the Temple of Bel’s “Cella” in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, which was blown up by Islamic State jihadists. (AFP/Joseph Eid)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday recalled Shama-Hacohen in protest of two recent resolutions by the UN cultural body that ignored Jewish and Christian historical ties to Jerusalem holy sites.

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