Israel condemned

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 9

Israel condemned

NZPA-Reuter Belgrade 'A U.N.E.S.C.O. meeting in Belgrade yesterday condemned Israel for refusing to end digging and demolition work which ■ Arab States complained was destroying Islamic monuments and sites in Jerusalem. A committee at the twen-ty-first general conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation approved a resolution which also attacked:® - recent Israeli law annexing . Arab East Jerusa= lent 'arid "declaring the city the ? Spate’s arid indivisible capital. . ■ Voting*, was 78 for . and

three against with 28 abstentions and 41 delegations absent when the poll was taken. ■ " The United States,, which with Canada and Israel voted against the resolution, said it dealt with political issues beyond U.N.E.S.C.O.’s competence. ■ The resolution, sponsored by 37 Arab and African Countries, was supported by the Soviet bloc, the Soviet Union accusing Israel of cultural genocide in Jerusalem. Most. West European States abstained, but Portugal, j Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece voted in favour, Arab? delegates said Jerusalem was the site -of holy

shrines Of three faiths — Muslim, Christian and Jewish—but Israel was trying to Judaise the city. . \ . An Israeli -delegate,. Professor Zwh WerblowSki/said that since occupying. East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel had had to take, measures ■to save the city by crumbling drainage and sewerage systems which were endangering houses and historic monuments.

The main archaeological work was completed in 1977, but the authorities still had to cope with town planning problems of .water supply, traffic congestion, new;roads and open spaces, Professor Werblowski said; .