Church of the Nativity made world heritage site

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the pilgrimage walkway have been made world cultural heritage sites, after the United Nations’ cultural organization Unesco, approved a Palestine request made by petition.

In a session which took place in St. Petersburg in Russia, the committee of the Unesco approved the urgent Palestine request, by a majority of votes, to make the one of the oldest churches in the world, where Jesus is said to have been born, a cultural heritage site.   

Palestines described the decision as “a historic day for justice.”

“The Palestine community celebrated this decision as a moment of national pride and an acknowledgement of its rich, unique heritage and identity,” said Hanan Ahrawi, the director of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).