Occupied Jerusalem - SANA
A member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hanan Ashrawi, confirmed that the Israeli occupation's seizure of the ancient castles of Deir Saman and Monastery of the Citadel of West Salfit in the West Bank is a heinous crime that comes within his practices based on looting and systematic theft of the Palestinian cultural, historical and religious heritage.
Ashrawi stressed in a statement today reported by Wafa news agency that the occupation authorities are looking into their crimes against the Palestinians by stealing the Palestinian land, identity, history and culture, pointing out that the seizure of the two castles has been planned by the occupation for nearly ten years and aims to expand the settlements established in the region.
Ashrawi called on the international community and its institutions and bodies, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to assume their responsibilities, protect Palestinian heritage and history, confront the systematic theft of the occupation and stop the international silence policy towards these heinous crimes.