Biblical Samaria joins UNESCO World Heritage List
Sebastia on the West Bank of the Jordan River. Photo: catholicnews
The Palestinian village of Sebastia on the West Bank of the Jordan River, identified with biblical Samaria, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List despite sharp criticism from Israel, reports the UNESCO website.
The decision was made on July 24, 2026, at a session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. Sebastia was inscribed on both the main list and the List of World Heritage in Danger, using an expedited procedure that is typically applied to sites affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts.
The organization explained the expedited procedure by noting that heritage sites around the world face numerous crises, including armed conflicts that pose serious threats to heritage. On the same day, five medieval castles in the Lebanese region of Jabal Amel also received endangered site status.
Israel called the decision politically motivated. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Palestinian delegation of unilaterally presenting the situation as an emergency and stated that the decision is aimed at erasing the Jewish and Christian history of Sebastia. The Palestinian side, on the contrary, called the inscription a reward for the village's residents, who had preserved the site despite restrictions for decades. According to UNESCO, the integrity of the site is threatened by a planned expropriation of land to create the "Samaria" national park, which could divide the heritage site's territory.
Sebastia has been inhabited for approximately three millennia and was in antiquity the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. According to Christian and Muslim tradition, the tomb of John the Baptist is also located here. The Palestinian side first submitted an application for the site's inscription on the UNESCO list back in 2012.
As the UOJ reported, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's seizure of Jerusalem Church lands.
Read also
Phanar head could stop church raids with a single word, says UOC hierarch
Metropolitan Theodosiy said the Ecumenical Patriarch must have understood what consequences the creation of the OCU could bring.
OCU and Phanar sponsor known as “Narik” attends opening of Phanarion center
A Dnipro crime figure was spotted in a photo from the opening of the Phanarion Orthodox Dialogue Center in Hungary.
UOC Dnipropetrovsk Eparchy marks 450th anniversary of Samar Monastery
Metropolitan Iriney led the anniversary Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Monastery in the city of Samar.
Dumenko and officials hold religious event at seized Cherkasy cathedral
At the Archangel Michael Cathedral, which was taken from UOC believers, the OCU head held a “service” attended by regional and city officials.
Shevchuk thanks mufti for promoting Catholic-Muslim dialogue
The head of the UGCC discussed the importance of interfaith unity with the Grand Mufti of Ukraine.
Roundtable at St. Sophia of Kyiv to discuss double-headed eagle on iconostasis
The St. Sophia of Kyiv Reserve has announced an academic discussion on the meaning of the double-headed eagle depicted on its Royal Doors.