A site worthy of the inscription “World Heritage Site” is of universal importance to society due to it’s cultural or natural implications. While the host country is responsible for the protection and oversight of these valuable places, these sites truly belong to everyone.
UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization. It was established in 1945 and it’s founding mission is to promote peace through collaboration and dialog between nations. To date there are 193 member states around the world.
Israel became a member state the year after it was founded. However, in 2018, both Israel and the United States pulled out citing anti-Israel bias as the reason. Nonetheless, Israel continues to invest in protecting and expanding cultural and educational programs related to its UNESCO sites and those places on its tentative list.
Below are the best preserved, most visited World Heritage sites in Israel:
- 2001: Masada
- 2001: The Old City of Akko
- 2003: The White City of Tel Aviv – the Modern Movement
- 2005: The Biblical Tells:
Tel Megiddo National Park
Tel Hazor National Park
Tel Beer Sheva National Park
The Incense Route – Desert Cities of the Negev
Avdat, Shivta, Halutsa and Mamshit national parks - 2008: The Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa and the Western Galilee
- 2012: The Nahal Me‘arot/Wadi el-Mughara Caves
- 2014: The Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin
- 2015: The Necropolis of Bet She‘arim
Several more sites are on Israel’s tentative list of WHS including Caesarea National Park and Beit She’an National Park. These two sites are definitely worth adding to your list of places to visit in Israel.
Wanting to visit Israel but find it too daunting a task to arrange the trip yourself? Join one of Coral Travel & Tours Israel Church Tours with other Christians as you explore the land where Jesus was born and publicly ministered before his death and resurrection. Leave the details to us while you enjoy the company of like-minded believers as you visit the land of the Bible.