The Palestinian Authority is to launch a campaign to get the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Jesus’s traditional birthplace, added to Unesco’s list of world heritage sites, according to officials. The Palestinian tourism ministry launched the drive yesterday to get the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to recognise the “Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage route,” to their list, a ministry statement said.

“Palestine is home to some of the most important heritage sites in the world. One of the most striking and universally significant is the Old City of Bethlehem and the birthplace of Jesus,” the statement quoted Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat as saying. “The Palestinians are eager to share their heritage with the rest of the world,” he added.

The heritage of the Holy Land has taken on central role in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Last November Israel reduced its cooperation with Unesco in protest at its description of Rachel’s Tomb, a Jewish holy site near Bethlehem, as a mosque. Rachel’s Tomb, built over what is believed to be the burial place of the biblical matriarch, is the third holiest site in Judaism, but also considered a holy place for Muslims.

Earlier this year, Israel ann-ounced plans to include Rachel’s Tomb and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in a national heritage restoration plan, a decision criticised by Unesco as “escalating tension” in the area. Israel defended the decision at the time, saying the plan involved only restoration work and promising there would be no attempt to change the delicate status quo at these sites.