UNESCO declares Hebron Old City protected heritage site

UNESCO on Friday declared the Old City of Hebron a protected heritage site in a secret ballot, an issue which has triggered a new Israeli-Palestinian spat at the international body.

The UN.'s cultural arm voted 12 to three - with six abstentions - to give heritage status to Hebron in the occupied West Bank, which is home to more than 200,000 Palestinians and a few hundred Israeli settlers.

In response, Israel branded the decision 'shameful.'

The decision was taken on Friday in Krakow, Poland, on a proposal from the Palestinian side that has drawn angry reaction from Israel, whose ambassador left the session.

The decision draws the world’s attention to the situation in Hebron, which has sites that are holy for both Jews and Muslims.

In May, UNESCO passed a resolution at the UN organisation's Paris headquarters which criticised actions taken by "Israel, the occupying power... to alter the character and status of the holy city of Jerusalem."

It particularly criticised Israel's annexation of Jerusalem following its occupation of the city's east in 1967, a move never recognised by the international community.

It said such moves were "null and void and must be rescinded forthwith".

The resolution, which passed by 22 votes to 10, with 23 abstentions, was welcomed by the Palestinians.