Cambodia MOU Extension Due

World must wake up to crackdown in Cambodia, says exiled opposition politician

Archaeologists for Assad?

Assad crony Abdukarim

UNESCO's Bulgarian Ex-Communist Director-General has praised Syria's Director-General for Antiquities and Museums in glowing terms. “'When history books teach children about those who contributed to conserving Syrian heritage during the devastating conflict in Syria, Dr Maamoun Abdulkarim will be at the top of the list, along with all others who have been so dedicated and deserving of the world’s respect for their relentless, humanist commitment', said UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova."

 What appears lost on UNESCO and members of the archaeological lobby who have also sung Abdukarim's praises is the fact that the Assad regime, which Abdulkarim serves, itself has been responsible not only for mass murder, but for the looting and the intentional destruction of Syrian cultural patrimony. "Indeed, Assad, like other Arab Strongmen, appears all too willing to use and abuse archaeology for his regime's own political purposes. So, why should Abdulkarim be praised at all?" asks Peter Tompa.

Troubled UNESCO begins picking new leader

Troubled UNESCO begins picking new leader. A key task for new head of UN cultural body is to regain US funding, suspended over perceived anti-Israel bias (AFP and Times of Israel staff). The current director-general, Irina Bokova, has come across as wanting a good relationship with Israel. We'll see what happens when she steps down and a new leader is elected.

"In Gaza, Hamas levels an ancient Canaanite archaeological treasure/

Much of the 4,500-year-old Bronze Age city known as Tel Es-Sakan is being bulldozed to make way for construction projects and military bases (Fares Akram, "In Gaza, Hamas levels an ancient Canaanite archaeological treasure/" Times of Israel  October 6, 2017),

Palestinian and French archaeologists began excavating Gaza’s earliest archaeological site nearly 20 years ago, unearthing what they believe is a rare 4,500-year-old Bronze Age settlement. But over protests that grew recently, Gaza’s Hamas rulers have systematically destroyed the work since seizing power a decade ago, allowing the flattening of this hill on the southern tip of Gaza City to make way for construction projects, and later military bases. There is a clear destruction of a very important archaeological site,” said Palestinian archaeology and history professor Mouin Sadeq, who led three excavations at the site along with French archaeologist Pierre de Miroschedji after its accidental discovery in 1998. “I don’t know why the destruction of the site was approved.”

It is among the earliest sites indicating the emergence of the “urban society” concept in the Near East, when communities were transforming from farming villages around 4,000 BC, and it was on trade routes between Egypt and the Levant, The area “was the first city of Palestine to have a city wall,”

Cambodia’s Corrupt, Anti-Democratic Government seeks 5-Year Renewal of MOU

Cambodia is seeking a renewal of a US Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to embargo import of all artifacts. In the meanwhile its government is crushing the free press, imprisoning political opponents and dumping US ties in favor of China. The Cambodian MOU has been in place, and ever-expanding in scope, since 1999. The request will be considered by the Cultural Property Advisory Committee, meeting at the Department of State on October 23-24. All comments from the public must be submitted in writing by October 15, 2017. Use http://www.regulations.gov, enter the docket [DOS-2017-0036] and follow the prompts to submit comments.

Thousands of Artifacts Missing from Britain's top museums

Who oversees the custodians? Thousands of artifacts 'missing' from Britain's top museums: ICOM must take Note and issue guidance concerning security.

Hypocrisy: A state for the Palestinians but not for the Kurds or Catalonia

“From the river to the sea Palestine will be free”
 – of Jews and of Israel. This is an Arab Final Solution

Since the Arab “spring” with its multiple civil wars broke out, the Kurds are the one nation that have managed to remain united and hold on tot their territory, retaking control and a semblance of independence after decades of repression by the Arab countries who previously controlled their territory. They have been amongst the prime fighters against ISIS and have stayed out of the Israeli-Arab conflict altogether. [...] Last week the Kurds held a referendum amongst its people asking if they wanted independence. The answer of course was a resounding yes. However the answer from almost the entire world (the UN, the US, Iran, Iraq, Turkey) was a resounding “no”, or a hostile neutral silence. The only country that lent its solid support to the Kurdish nation was Israel.

We should all pray that Kurds are successful in their bid for independence and that there will be a peaceful solution to this brewing crisis. Shame on the world for denying this brave, big-hearted people their rightful claim to their own territory and self-determination.

But somehow, the Palestinians, who already have independence from Israel, and who run their own affairs, are considered perfectly legitimate when they demand not only independence, but an end to the State of Israel. They demand this loudly and clearly and can be heard in demonstrations across the world: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. This is no less than an Arabic “final solution” for the Jews. In case you haven’t looked at a map lately, the space between the river (Jordan) to the (Mediterranean) Sea is occupied, for want of a better word, by Israel with over 6 million Jews as well as another 2 million Muslims, Christians and other minorities.

"Hypocrisy: A state for the Palestinians but not for the Kurds or Catalonia" Anne's Opinions 2 Oct 2017