Arab envoy apologizes for not voting against UNESCO Hebron resolution

"An Arab ambassador of a country that does not have diplomatic ties has apologized to his Israeli counterpart Carmel Shama-Hacohen for not being able to vote against the UNESCO resolution declaring Hebron's Old City-and with it the Cave of the Patriarchs-as a Palestinian World Heritage Site.

The Arab ambassador conditioned his support to Israel in a secret ballot vote at UNESCO. But when the vote was held out in the open rather than at a private voting booth, the ambassador had no choice but to go back on his promise.

The resolution passed on Friday with 12 member states voting in favor, three voting against and six abstaining.

'Sorry for today, it was too heated, it is difficult to say it was a secret vote...' the ambassador told Shama-Hacohen in a message, later adding: 'No choice...'"