UNESCO lists Israeli-controlled heritage sites in Lebanon, West Bank as in danger

UNESCO has added Beaufort Castle in Lebanon and the archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank to its list of World Heritage in Danger. Beaufort Castle, a Crusader fortress captured by Israeli forces in May during the war with Hezbollah, is one of five castles in southern Lebanon that UNESCO states have sustained damage and face ongoing threats. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame called the listing "a remarkable achievement in the effort to protect these important Lebanese historical landmarks." Sebastia, near Nablus, is considered the ancient city of Samaria and is located in an area controlled by Israel. UNESCO noted that "The integrity of the site is currently threatened by an expropriation project aimed at subdividing the property and creating the ‘Samaria’ (Shomron) National Park." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the listing, attributing it to Palestinian efforts to deny Jewish connection to the land. Both sites were added to the endangered list following votes by all 196 UN member states.