Israel cancels Unesco visit - Telegraph The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was due to make its first visit since 2004 after agreeing to avoid motions hostile to Israel at a conference in Cambodia next month. But in the latest signs of the passions aroused by disputes over the ancient biblical city's status, Israeli officials changed their minds after Riyad al-Malki, the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister, said UNESCO's tour would "probe the occupation measures." "The Palestinians have violated all the understandings reached, and made real attempts to change the visit from a professional to a political visit," an Israeli official told Reuters. The Old City lies in the eastern sector of Jerusalem captured by Israel in the 1967 six-day war. It contains sites that are holy to Jews and Muslims, as well as Christians. Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state while Israeli claim the entire city as their "eternal and indivisible capital." Mr al-Malki claimed he had expected Israel to block UNESCO visit. "We weren't surprised by this decision because we believed that Israel's agreement to [allow the mission] was not convincing," he said.