OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, -- The Israeli government decided to suspend cooperation with the UNESCO in protest over its decision that considered Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem an Islamic mosque and heritage.

A statement by the office of Danny Ayalon, the deputy foreign minister, said that Israel suspended cooperation with UNESCO until its decision was reversed.

The UNESCO passed a majority vote considering Bilal and Ibrahimi mosques in Bethlehem and Al-Khalil respectively as Islamic places of worship and not Jewish as claimed by Israel.

The UNESCO last February criticized Israel for annexing the Ibrahimi and Bilal mosques to the list of Jewish heritage sites.