Minister of Religious Affairs denies Jewish rights to Cave of Patriarchs

"Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Minister of Religious Affairs, toured the Sacred Site of Abraham (the Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron. He walked through its corridors and learned of the arbitrary steps taken by the occupation authorities, manifesting themselves in [their] creating difficulties in reaching [the Cave] and praying in it ... Habbash demanded that the occupation authorities (i.e., Israel) leave the Cave of the Patriarchs alone, since it belongs to Muslims alone, and they [Israel] have no right to continue laying their hands upon it and continuing to control it."