RIYADH (Dispatches) – The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine has condemned the Saudi Arabia for allowing an Israeli delegation to participate in a UNESCO meeting in Riyadh.
“Receiving an Israeli delegation in the land of the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the place of revelation is trying, in vain, to legitimize the normalization efforts that are rejected by the peoples of our Arab and Muslim nation,” said the movement.
It added that the participation of the Zionist delegation in this meeting comes at a time when Israel itself rejects UNESCO decisions and has boycotted the organization in the past.
Islamic Jihad pointed out that this is happening while the Israeli occupation forces are carrying out aggressive Judaization of Palestinian land, and illegal settlement growth. Moreover, it follows the regime’s ongoing violations against Palestinian students, the fight against the Palestinian curriculum in occupied Al-Quds, and the imposition of Judaization on its people.
“This [presence in Riyadh] is nothing but a cover for and encouragement of these crimes and neglect of Al-Quds and its sanctities,” concluded the resistance movement.
UNESCO, on Tuesday, confirmed that a Zionist delegation attended its conference.
“We confirm that a delegation from Israel… is present at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee which is being held in Riyadh,” UNESCO told Anadolu, without giving further details.
On Monday, an Israeli official also confirmed the news for Anadolu, adding that this is the first time an Israeli delegation is paying an official visit to Saudi Arabia, which has no official ties with Israel.
The delegation is made up of Zionist foreign ministry officials, said the source, who asked not to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media.