ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is "Connect the World." I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Parting shots this hour. About the politics of preserving the past. UNESCO's list of new world heritage sites is out and Hebron in the Palestinian Territory is among the places flagged as significant and endangered, inclusion of what is the flash point town, home to the cave of the patriarch, sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims sparked a furious response from Israel. Tel Aviv promptly cut funding to UNESCO by $1 million to protest what it calls the politically motivated move. In China, the choice of a mountain plateau in its Tibetan region also drew protest campaign and say it endangers the livelihood of local nomadic people. The modernist architecture of the Eritrea capital Asmara is also in the world's spotlight, a success for a government accused of human rights abuse that has driven thousands to hit the migrant trail to Europe. Less controversial choices from this region include the 3rd Century Turkish ruins and marble queries of Aphrodisias, from the Iranian desert or Yazd, a former silk road trading post that survived the mangles (ph) and is built entirely of mud. Stunning images to end today's program and a reminder of the history and beauty that exists in this region at a time when we see so much destruction. But as we know, heritage not only break some water. 24 hours ago, I was standing in the famed date groves, one of the UAE's first ever UNESCO heritage sites, Al Ain. Now, this oasis town was given the nod for its intricate irrigation system that's thousands of years old. It's called a aflaj (ph) system and it's 19th Century forts. More on that story in our programs for you in the weeks ahead. For now, I'm Becky Anderson. That was "Connect the World" live from this ancient and ever-evolving region. Thank you for watching. CNN, of course, continues after this short break with "Quest Express" from the team here working with you most, working with us around the world, it's a very good evening. 11:55:42
UNESCO'S New World Heritage List Now Out.