• UNESCO added Sebastia in the West Bank and five Lebanese castles to its World Heritage List.
• Israel opposed the inclusion, labeling it a politicization of cultural heritage.
• Sites were placed on an endangered list due to ongoing regional conflicts.
• Palestinian officials argue for protection against Israeli land expropriations.
• Lebanese officials stressed that the castles are used for tourism, not military purposes.

A United Nations committee voted on July 24 to inscribe a significant archaeological site, Sebastia, located in the West Bank, as well as five castles in southern Lebanon to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This decision was made during a meeting in Busan, South Korea, despite strong objections from Israel, which urged the committee to reject the bids, describing them as a "weaponization of cultural heritage," according to Le Monde and Los Angeles Times.

The UNESCO committee's action classified both the West Bank site of Sebastia, historically identified as ancient Samaria, and the five castles in the Mount Amel region of Lebanon under an emergency listing due to ongoing conflicts in the region. The sites received this designation after the Palestinian delegation had previously sought such recognition in 2012, emphasizing the need for protection as Israel moves to expropriate land nearby, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

Sebastia is crucial for its archaeological remains, spanning multiple historical periods, while the castles reflect diverse architectural influences. Palestinian member of the UNESCO delegation, Adel Naim Daoud Atieh, remarked that this designation rewards the longtime efforts of Sebastia's residents to safeguard their heritage amid occupation and restrictions. The committee's decision also faced criticism from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which labeled the Palestinian efforts as a part of a hostile campaign against its historical ties to the land, according to Le Monde and Los Angeles Times.

In Lebanon, the inclusion of the five castles, including Beaufort Castle, has been contested as well. The Israeli foreign ministry asserts that Hezbollah has militarized Beaufort Castle, while Lebanese officials responded by asserting that the castles are exclusively utilized for cultural and tourism purposes since Israel's withdrawal in 2000. This dispute highlights the broader tensions between Israel and UNESCO, particularly after Israel's withdrawal from the organization in 2019, citing bias against it, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

Amid these tensions, the UNESCO committee also placed Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city located in southern Lebanon, on the endangered heritage list earlier this week, highlighting the UNESCO’s focus on protecting cultural heritage in the context of geopolitical conflicts, as reported by Al Jazeera.