Mexico, Oct 18 — The executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved a controversial resolution on Jerusalem’s holy sites yesterday that has sparked the outrage of Israel, a spokesman said.

The international agency’s board adopted the motion by consensus (24 votes in favor), although Mexico attempted to change its affirmative vote at the last moment to an abstention, a move that was not approved by the agency.

The resolution, “Occupied Palestine,” was rejected by Israeli officials who objected to the use of the Arabic name for the hilltop area that is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

The resolution also denounces Israel’s military occupation of East Jerusalem.

The executive board ratified a draft form of the resolution that had already been passed by a special committee last week.

The site known in Hebrew as Har HaBayit (the “Temple Mount”), which includes the Western Wall, is considered by Jews to be the most sacred place in the world, as the biblical Temples of Solomon (957 – 586 BCE) and Herod (516 BCE – 70 CE) are believed to have once stood there.

Critics of the resolution say it denies the historical link between Judaism and the Temple Mount compound, which Muslims call Al-Haram esh-Sharif (“The Noble Sanctuary”).

The Al-Aqsa Mosque — the third-holiest place in Islam, after Mecca and Medina — and the iconic 7th-century Dome of the Rock also rest atop this disputed esplanade.

The resolution’s text was proposed by Palestine, and was endorsed by Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Sudan.

It garnered a total of 24 favorable votes (including Mexico’s), 26 abstentions, and six votes against, while two countries were absent from the proceedings.

The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Lithuania and Estonia all voted against the motion, while France, Spain along with other countries abstained.

Israel suspended its funding to UNESCO after the organization approved Palestine as a member in 2011.

Although 136 of the UN’s 193 member states (as well as two non-member states) have recognized the State of Palestine, Israel has shown fierce opposition to Palestinian attempts at gaining full statehood. EFE