Thursday
Feb252010
Islamic Conference Decries Israeli Move On Holy Sites
Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 7:04PM
Islamic Conference Decries Israeli Move On Holy Sites
By Staff
On a day when Israeli security forces and protestors clashed in the West Bank city of Hebron, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Israel's decision to include Ibrahami Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem to the list of Israeli national heritage sites.
Also knows as Patriarch's Cave and Rachel's Tomb, both are important holy site to Muslims, Jews and Christians. Since announcing they would be included on the list, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given assurances that members of all faiths would be able to visit the sites freely.
But many Palestinians see the decision as an Israeli attempt to strengthen its grip on the occupied territories, where US and international pressure has failed to convince Israel to stop the expansion of settlements.
Members of the OIC have called on the General Assembly, the Secretary General and the Security Council to take the necessary measures to force Israel to revoke its decision. "We think this Israeli unilateral aggression aims at deviating public attention from the assassination in Dubai as well as undermining all remaining chances of the peace process." said Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations.
Ibrahimi Mosque was also the site of 1994 shooting rampage by American born Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein that left 29 Muslim dead and several dozens more injured.
By Staff
On a day when Israeli security forces and protestors clashed in the West Bank city of Hebron, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Israel's decision to include Ibrahami Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem to the list of Israeli national heritage sites.
Also knows as Patriarch's Cave and Rachel's Tomb, both are important holy site to Muslims, Jews and Christians. Since announcing they would be included on the list, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given assurances that members of all faiths would be able to visit the sites freely.
But many Palestinians see the decision as an Israeli attempt to strengthen its grip on the occupied territories, where US and international pressure has failed to convince Israel to stop the expansion of settlements.
Members of the OIC have called on the General Assembly, the Secretary General and the Security Council to take the necessary measures to force Israel to revoke its decision. "We think this Israeli unilateral aggression aims at deviating public attention from the assassination in Dubai as well as undermining all remaining chances of the peace process." said Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations.
Ibrahimi Mosque was also the site of 1994 shooting rampage by American born Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein that left 29 Muslim dead and several dozens more injured.
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