PA official: Israel is forging and stealing antiquities in Hebron
Headline: “Warning of Judaization activities against the Cave of the Patriarchs (Ibrahimi Haram)”
“The [PA's] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places has warned against widespread excavations being carried out by groups of extremist settlers in the Building of Rest (Al-Istiraha) south of the Cave of the Patriarchs in the city of Hebron… Secretary General of the Council Dr. Hanna Issa said that the excavations in the Cave of the Patriarchs and the simultaneous extremist calls to invade the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] constitute Israeli insistence, at all levels, on desecrating the sanctity of the holy places. Likewise, he noted that mostly, the excavations are accompanied by theft and the forgery of antiquities, especially in light of the fact that the ancient city of Hebron is an archeological site rich in antiquities.”
Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.
“The [PA's] Islamic-Christian Council for Jerusalem and the Holy Places has warned against widespread excavations being carried out by groups of extremist settlers in the Building of Rest (Al-Istiraha) south of the Cave of the Patriarchs in the city of Hebron… Secretary General of the Council Dr. Hanna Issa said that the excavations in the Cave of the Patriarchs and the simultaneous extremist calls to invade the Al-Aqsa [Mosque] constitute Israeli insistence, at all levels, on desecrating the sanctity of the holy places. Likewise, he noted that mostly, the excavations are accompanied by theft and the forgery of antiquities, especially in light of the fact that the ancient city of Hebron is an archeological site rich in antiquities.”
Note: The PA considers any presence of Jews on the Temple Mount an "invasion." However, all visitors are subject to rigorous checks by Israeli security personnel before being granted access to the Temple Mount.