UNESCO's Folly in Sebastia The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has again found itself entangled in the politics of recognition over the West Bank archaeological site of Sebastia.
Despite Israel's vociferous objections, the World Heritage Committee added Sebastia to its list alongside a group of Lebanese castles, reigniting tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had warned that designating Sebastia would be "weaponizing cultural heritage," but UNESCO's move is more accurately seen as fueling an already volatile situation.