The Czech Republic, one of Israel’s oldest allies, dating back to Czechosloviakia and the 1947 Partition vote, has declared that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
The Russian website Morgulis reported first, stating “The Parliament of the Czech Republic made Israel a present for the jubilee of the unification of Jerusalem: it approved a resolution calling on the government to recognize the Eternal City [Jerlusam] as the capital of the Jewish state. It also condemns UNESCO’s decision against the sovereignty of Israel in the Eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem.” The resolution was voted on by the lower house of the parliament where 113 out of 156 deputies supported it. “Czech MPs also voted for an article offering to stop paying fees to UNESCO’s cashier if this organization continues its anti-Israeli rhetoric.”
Czechoslovakia, with string Czech support, gave military aid to Israel, and was one of the first to ever do so, in the war for Israel’s Independence. Today the bond between the Czech Republic and Israel remains strong.
Jan Bartosek, the Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies and KDU-CSL, as well as the Vice-Chariperson of PS PCR, writes for the Czech Parliament official website, “Last October, the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament approved a resolution protesting against the decision of the UNESCO Executive Council, which denied the historical link between the Jewish nation, Israel, and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” This is in reference to a the most recent anti-Israel resolution passed by UNESCO which called it an occupier of “east” Jerusalem, forgetting, of course that it is thanks to Israel that all three religions have equal access to their holy sites, and that between 1949-1967, when Jordan divided Jerusalem no one seem to notice or care the state the old city was in. But now, of course, Israel is the boogeyman.
The article stats three specific grievances that the Czech Republic has against UNESCO. The first is UNESCO’s delegitimization of a close friend of the Czech Republic. The second, is the deligimization of ‘The whole western cultural circuit” which of course has bases to events in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, which Bartosek makes a point to say that such events came long before the rise of Islam. Islam is the youngest of the three Monotheistic religions, and did not arrive to Israel until the 6th century AD.
The last grievance is the politicization of Israel’s entire existence and the fact that an organization that is supposed to promote and be involved in culture, science, and education puts so much time and energy into “Attacking the only truly democratic state in the Middle East region, thus directly enhancing its enemies,” among those enemies, Bartosek adds are enemies to the entire western world and not just Israel.
Back in May of this year, Czech parliament called for sanctions to be taken against UNESCO because of their anti-Israel attitude. Considering how many UNESCO resolutions there have been against Israel, it seems they have nothing better to do…or perhaps simply incapable of devoting time and effort to legitimate causes. Israel of course, not to be outdone, is not taking UNESCO’s attacks lying down. In the scheme of Jewish ingenuity and Chutzpah, they decided a new approach was necessary beyond just empty words.
In response to UNESCO’s resolution denying the historical connection of the Jews to Jerusalem, Israel gave UNESCO a present, a replica of the Arch of Titus.
The real Arch of Titus documented in a beautiful display of architecture, shows the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the creation of a replica “of this famous arch through which Roman soldiers marched after the destruction of the Second Temple, and give it to UNESCO as a reminder of the Jewish people’s historic connection to the Old City. The replica was granted to UNESCO during a ceremony on Tuesday, which was attended by the organization’s Director-General Irina Bokova” (source). ”
For many years, Jews would not pass through the Arch of Titus, seeing it as a symbol of the destruction and humiliation,” said Israel’s envoy to UNESCO, Carmel Shama HaCohen. “In an absurd turn of events, this very element is now being used to prove the Jewish people’s connection to Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the whole of Jerusalem.”
How did any of Israelis manage to keep a straight face during the ceremony? No one will ever know. Apparently the Romans were good for something. It is doubtful that UNESCO’s attitude will change when it comes to Israel. But what is apparent is that the Czech Republic, Israel, and hopefully others will not let UNESCO get away with their attempts to delegitimize Israel, and erase the history of the Jewish people.
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