Israel has suspended cooperation with UNESCO. It follows the move by the UN’s cultural and heritage body to renew a resolution condemning Israel for restricting Muslim access to the old city in east Jerusalem. <br /><br /> The draft text repeatedly referred to the site, known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as the al-Aqsa compound, by only its Muslim name. <br /><br /> The motion prompted fury in Israel, with the country’s Prime Minister arguing it amounted to a denial of Jewish history. <br /><br /> ‘‘With this absurd resolution, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it had left, but I believe that the historical truth is much stronger and will prevail,’‘ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said. <br /><br /> The resolution, which is up for formal approval next week, also accused Israeli police and soldiers of agression towards Muslims at the holy site which has been a flashpoint of Israeli-Palestinian violence. <br /><br /> Put forward by Arab states, the motion was approved by 24 votes, six against and 26 abstentions.<br />
