UNESCO Adds West Bank's Sebastia to Endangered Heritage List Under 'State of Palestine'

On July 24, 2026, UNESCO inscribed Sebastia — ancient Samaria, capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel — on its World Heritage and Danger lists, filed under "State of Palestine." Israel, which quit UNESCO in 2019 and attends only as an observer, lobbied to block the listing. Palestinian officials first sought the designation in 2012.