People walk between rubble after an Israeli strike damaged two city walls in the historic Bekaa town of Baalbeck on Oct. 29, 2024. (Credit: Nidal Solh/AFP)
UNESCO's Special Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict will meet on Nov. 18 for an extraordinary session devoted to Lebanon, Moustapha Adib, Lebanon's ambassador to the U.N. organization, told L'Orient-Le Jour on Thursday. “The committee's bureau is made up of 12 countries, eight of which are in favor of the meeting. It will take place,” explained Adib, at a time when several Lebanese historic sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites are damaged and threatened by Israeli strikes.
For several days now, the Israeli army has been repeatedly bombing the city of Baalbeck and the surrounding area. On Thursday, for the second consecutive day, Israel struck the town after calling for its evacuation, without the map published for the threatened area making any exception for the ancient city, which includes one of the world's best-preserved Roman temples, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Three days earlier, on Monday, two juxtaposed city walls in the historic old town, one dating from the French Mandate and known as Gouraud (in reference to General Henri Gouraud) and the other from the Ottoman era, were destroyed by Israeli strikes. At least 60 people were killed and 58 wounded in the Baalbeck-Hermel district and other areas of the Bekaa on Monday alone, according to a provisional assessment by the Health Ministry.
Adib also points out that Lebanon's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO has asked the organization's Director General, Audrey Azoulay, to speak publicly on the subject and “call for greater protection of natural and archaeological sites.” What does this mean in concrete terms? “That international organizations can help restore damaged heritage, and above all that Israel can be held accountable for its crimes against heritage,” replied Adib.
“That's the most we can do,” added the ambassador. “There's an imminent threat, as we can all see. We must therefore bring the necessary pressure to bear on international bodies,” he said, affirming that he is working with the General Directorate of Antiquities (DGA), a body that reports to the Lebanese Culture Ministry, to put together the application file for the protection of Lebanese heritage.
'The entire historic city of Baalbeck under threat'
Contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, a source close to the organization responsible for the ancient city of Baalbeck at the DGA said he was “disgusted” by the ongoing Israeli bombardments. “I don't even know what to say, I had to make sure that the workers weren't on the site at the time of the evacuation order... I don't have the words, I'm crying,” continued this source, who wished to remain anonymous.
“The entire historic city is under threat. It's not just the complex, the citadel itself: It's a whole infrastructure, an ecosystem around it. The workers on site have left their homes next to the site,” added this source, whose anger continued. “Nobody's doing anything, even the foreigners aren't moving! Everyone tells you 'it's wonderful, it's magnificent' the Baalbeck site... But do something! This isn't a film we're watching, it's not just images we're seeing, it's reality!” she said indignantly.
Even if restoration of the heritage already damaged by the strikes is possible, it “will take time,” according to the same source. For his part, Adib hopes that the Nov. 18 meeting will help move things forward. "I am doing everything in my power,” he said. "But as long as there is no cease-fire, we are all exposed to every possible Israeli violation.”
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
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