Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs apologized for the comments of Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara after he linked the earthquake in Italy to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee resolution ignoring Judaism's deep ties to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized UNESCO's latest anti-Semitic resolution denying Jewish ties to Jerusalem and called Israel’s UNESCO envoy Carmel Shama-Hacohen home for consultations. Netanyahu’s office noted progress, however, saying, “More nations moved this year from support to abstentions.”

Lawmakers from 17 countries signed a declaration last Thursday against last week’s United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) resolution and called for international recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided and eternal capital of Israel.