ISRAELI TROOPS and Palestinians clashed for the fifth successive day in Hebron yesterday in the latest fallout from a decision by Israel to include two sites in the occupied West Bank in a new “national heritage” list.
Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister, prayed in the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron yesterday and warned that Israel’s new plan was a provocation.
“We will not be dragged to violence by the terrorism of the settlers, and the terrorism of the settlement project,” he told reporters. “Our objection to this lies in the fact these sites are on Palestinian land that was occupied in 1967, precisely the lands upon which the independent Palestinian state will be established.”
The row began at an Israeli cabinet meeting last Sunday, when ministers put together a new list of national heritage sites for protection and renovation. Apparently at the last minute, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided to include two West Bank sites: the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, known to the Palestinians as the Ibrahimi mosque; and Rachel’s Tomb, near Bethlehem.
“Our existence here in our country depends not only on the strength of the IDF [Israel Defence Force] and our economic and technological might. It is anchored, first and foremost, in our national and emotional legacy, which we instil in our youth and in the coming generations,” Mr Netanyahu told the cabinet.
The move provoked a political storm, as both sites are on land captured by Israel in 1967. Both sites are important to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but there are influential Jewish settler communities close to both. Mr Netanyahu’s decision seems a direct challenge to long-held Palestinian aspirations for an independent state.
It also seems like a nod to the right-wing elements in his cabinet. On the same day, dozens of rightwing Jewish settlers marched into the West Bank city of Jericho in a show of strength.
Soon there were clashes in Hebron, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned of a risk of “religious war”. The US state department stepped into the row, criticising Israel’s decision for being provocative at a time when western governments are trying to restart peace talks.
Later in the week Mr Netanyahu tried to defuse some of the criticism, saying there had been a “misunderstanding”. By yesterday, the violence had subsided. Israeli troops fired tear-gas and Palestinians threw stones in Hebron, but the crowds were smaller.
Palestinians at Friday prayers said they were angered at Mr Netanyahu’s plan. “It is an unjust decision and designed to destroy peace,” said Osama Abu Sharq (47). “The settlers are being strengthened and the land of 1967 is being confiscated day after day.”