Ramallah: The Israeli occupation forces have stepped up measures to humiliate Muslims seeking entry to Al Ebrahimi Mosque in Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli revenge move follows Unesco decision on Friday to declare Hebron Old City and Al Ebrahimi Mosque as a Palestinian world heritage site.
The new measures are designed to give Jews more room in the holy site and increase their worshipping rights there, says a leading Palestinian Imam.
Hifzi Abu Snainah, who heads Al Ebrahimi Mosque, says the Israelis are now escalating the intensity of their inspections at the entrances of the mosque to deliver a clear message that the Unesco decision was a major insult to the Israeli occupation.
Abu Snainah cited an incident on Sunday when the Israeli occupation acted abrasively towards a Chinese Muslim delegation visiting the holy site.
“We will reveal these Israeli practices and the ugly face of the Israeli occupation to the world, including those countries which voted in favour of the Unesco decision,” he told Gulf News.
In a further retaliatory response to the Unesco decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cut $1 million (Dh3.67 million) from the membership fees Israel pays to the United Nations and use that money to build a museum of Jewish heritage in Hebron.
The Israeli occupation is also expected to seize more privately-owned Palestinian land to continue their colonial projects in Hebron, the biggest city in the West Bank.
Abu Snainah said the Palestinians would be demanding action from the world powers against the new Israeli measures targeting Hebron.
“Israel does not care much about the world and it believes itself to be a state that is above the law,” he said.
Abu Snainah added: “Al Ebrahimi Mosque is a pure and undisputed Muslim property by a divine decision about which Israel can do nothing.”
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has slammed the Unesco decision. saying it showed that Unesco was “determined to continue spreading anti-Jewish lies.”
The ancient Al Ebrahimi Mosque is the third oldest place and fourth most important religious site in Israel. It houses the tombs of Ebrahim, Ishaq Yaqoub and Yousuf.
Since Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast War, Israel has targeted the holy site, restricting Palestinian and Muslim access to it. Israel has divided Al Ebrahimi Mosque into two main sections. The Jewish area is the largest and includes all the religious and historical attractions. The Muslim section is severely restricted.
For several weeks a year, the entire holy site is sealed and Muslims are denied access, so Israeli colonists can conduct their Talmudic rituals and celebrate Jewish feasts.
