UNESCO HQ, Beirut.
The ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) has been in existence for 30 centuries, and is one of the world’s most cherished archeological and cultural heritage sites. Will it be cease to exist within the next 30 days?
According to Da’ish (ISIS), the answer is yes and they will see to it, for the reason that religious obligations in their jaded views require the destruction of pre-Islamic pagan idols, which they view as akin to devil worship.
According to some Syrian government officials ,and also Irina Bolova, UNESCO’s Director of World Heritage Sites List, which Palmyra has been on since 2013, the answer is also yes-unless. She means unless the UN takes immediate action under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter and immediately acts, with force if necessary (it is) to save Palmyra.
“The situation is very bad,’ Syria’s antiquities chief, Dr. Mamoun Abdel-Karim told reporters yesterday. ’If only five members of IS go into the ancient buildings, they’ll destroy everything. Our fear is also for the museum and large monuments that cannot be moved. Dr. Abdel-Karim is calling on the US-led military coalition against IS to prevent the group destroying the ancient site. “This is the entire world’s battle!” he exclaimed.
And so it is.