The Lebanese Daily Star is reporting that "occupied Jerusalem" has been appointed by UNESCO to be the "Arab Culture Capital 2009."

"Jerusalem was chosen by UNESCO and the Arab League this year ...for its unrivaled contribution to Arab culture, despite Israeli protestations that the holy city is its own."

The coordinator of these celebratory events is quoted as saying, " What we are doing with the events is highlighting the Palestinian cause."

Of course Israel does not claim that Jerusalem is holy only to Jews. And unlike under Arab jurisdiction, the Jewish State allows freedom of religion to the point where Christians and Muslims control their own Holy sites. When the Arabs controlled Jerusalem, Christians were limited in their access to their Holy sites and Jews were banished from the Old City completely.  The Jewish quarter was destroyed and many Jews were killed by Arabs.  Tombstones from the great cemetery on the Mount of Olives were used as latrines.

If one needed any more proof that UNESCO is an Arab League you can just read the statement that Jerusalem was chosen to highlight the Palestinian cause.

UNESCO, which is charged with preserving historic sites should be protesting the Muslim campaign to rid the Temple Mount of archaeological evidence that Solomon's Temple existed. Their destruction of precious materials on the Temple Mount is greater than the Taliban destroying the Buddhas in Afghanistan. But while the world condemned the Taliban destruction the world is silent when the Muslims destroy Jewish and Christian History.

For superb history of Jerusalem we highly recommend the new expanded soft cover edition of Dore Gold's The Fight For Jerusalem.