Shrines as a Trigger for Escalating Tensions in International Relations: The Case of the State of Palestine

Abstract

The protection of cultural heritage has both national and international importance. UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is most conducive to helping states in the preservation of the world cultural heritage. However, even the maintenance of Holy Places can be used for political purposes, and that can be clearly shown by the example of the State of Palestine. The admission of Palestine to UNESCO became the reason for the termination of the UNESCO membership fees payment by the United States of America and Israel; the adoption of a resolution in which only Muslim designations were used for the Temple Mount sites, served as a reason for the withdrawal of the United States of America and Israel from UNESCO and as an impetus for the implementation of the transfer of the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in violation of international law, what Palestine, in turn, appealed to the International Court of Justice. Political vicissitudes affect the lives of believing Christians, Jews and Muslims by complicating access to the Holy Places.