Palestinian Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mahmoud Al Habash warned today of grave consequences because Israel bracketed two historic (Islamic) sites in the West Bank in the list of Israel's national heritage sites. The new Israeli action is against Sanctuary of Abraham or Ibrahimi Mosque, known to others as the Cave of the Patriarchs and against Bilal ibn Rabah Mosque also known as Rachel's Tomb is an aggression against all Muslims and violation of Islamic and Human values and norms. "It is a step meant to block the way against all prayer-performers to reach the mosque in order to gain more control over the area for full-fledge judaization". Dr. Mahmoud Al Habash was referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration on Sunday listing Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in the national heritage register. "We strongly condemn this decision, which confirms once again the Israeli government's insistence on imposing facts on the ground" said Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, adding that " this Israeli decision is provocative to the feelings of Muslims all over the world and the Palestinian people in particular in addition to its violation of international laws, especially since the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Dome of Rachel's are part of the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967." On his part, Sheikh Tayseer Al Taminmi, the Chief Justice of Palestine denounced the Israeli decision and described it as "a declaration of war on the Islamic holy places in Palestine," saying it would lead to the "outbreak of religious war in the region of carnage and devastation, which threatens security in the region and the world ". He added that "This announcement comes in the context of the aggression on the Blessed Mosque of Al Aqsa and a pretext for dominance of the Mosque that is planned to be destroyed and build the alleged temple on its site."
