LONDON, February 24, 2010 (WAFA)- The Israeli government’s designation of two more places in the West Bank as “Israeli Heritage Sites”—the Ibrihimi Mosque (or Cave of the Patriarchs, a mosque that Abraham built and is buried in along with his wife Sarah) in Hebron and Bilal Bib Rabah Mosque (Rachel’s Tomb) near Bethlehem, is a provocative move threatening more violence and instability, Palestine Return Centre (PRC) said in a press release.

Israel since its occupation of the West Bank has initiated a system of “sharing” the mosque between Jews and Muslims that has gradually become increasingly restrictive and detrimental for Muslims.

This intensified further following a massacre at the Ibrahimi mosque in late February 1994, committed by Baruch Goldstein, an American Jewish immigrant who walked in his Israeli military uniform past Israeli guards and shot randomly at Muslim men praying at dawn during Ramadan killing 29 and injuring another 125 ( his grave in Kiryat Arba is now a site of reverential visits for some in the settler movement).

Israel’s audacious attempt is an implicit affirmation of Baruch Goldstein’s extremism who also wanted to claim the Mosque for Jews only and was prepared to commit mass murder to deny Palestinians access to their historical site. Israel has demonstrated its clear intention to do just that although be it by a different method.

The Israeli act is illegal, provocative and confrontational as these sites are part of the land occupied during 1967 war. This land according to international law is Palestinian land and vitally important for any future peace settlement. Such audacious and reckless acts are the product of a culture based on a total disregard for Palestinian rights and international law.

Successive Israeli governments continue to steal Palestinian lands, build illegal settlements “colonies”, killing civilians, stealing resources and driving Palestinians out from their homes in Jerusalem.