“Israel’s theft of a baptismal font dating back to the Byzantine era from Bethlehem overnight is an abominable act of
thuggery and cultural appropriation.
A hallmark of Israel’s system of colonial occupation and oppression has been its disdainful attempts to erase
Palestinian presence, culture and heritage, including the illegal appropriation and theft of heritage sites and
artifacts. This systemic policy of plunder is a war crime that must not go unpunished.
In the past weeks, Israel has taken other illegal steps targeting Palestinian heritage sites, including sealing off the
entrance of Jabal Al-Fureidis (or so-called Herodium) in the Bethlehem District to restrict the access of Palestinians
to the site, which Israel has illegally appropriated as an "Israeli National Park". Israel has also repeatedly targeted
other historical and archaeological sites, including UNESCO Heritage sites in Palestine such as the Old City of
Jerusalem, the Battir terraces in Bethlehem, and the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.
Israel must be held accountable for its egregious war on Palestinian heritage and its attempt to appropriate our history
and pillage historical artifacts that are an integral part of Palestinian and world history. UNESCO and its Director
General, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, have a moral and official duty to speak out and protect Palestinian heritage. Their
continued silence in this regard is an unacceptable abdication of responsibility.”