Israeli government's decision to include shrines in the West Bank in the list of "political-religious heritage, historical places of Israel" is a kind of action that impedes efforts to resume negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said to press conference on Feb. 26, Vesti TV channel reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to include Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in the list of monuments of Jewish heritage. These two relics in the West Bank are sacred both to Jews and Muslims.
According to the Foreign Ministry, which is included in the international "quartet" on Middle East settlement, the inclusion of these commemorative relics "refers to the delicate issues that have deep religious roots, and they must be treated very respectfully and carefully."
According to the Foreign Ministry of Russia, which is part of the Quartet on the Middle East, the decision to include these commemorative relics "refers to the delicate issues that have deep religious roots, and they must be approached very respectfully and carefully."
"Russia has repeatedly stated that in principle opposed any steps and actions that prejudge the outcome of negotiations on a final Israeli-Palestinian settlement, and complicate efforts to promote resumption of dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis," said Nesterenko.
Israeli Government's decision provoked strong protests among the Palestinian population in Hebron, which has led to a clash with Palestinian teenagers by Israeli police.
Recently in Hebron on the West Bank, a clash took place between Israeli police and Palestinian young people who were protesting against the Israeli actions.
Netanyahu's decision was also condemned by a number of Arab countries, especially Egypt, Jordan and Syria, which have signed peace agreement with the Jewish state. Muslims call the tomb of the Jewish Foremothers Rachel - Bilal Mosque and Cave of the Patriarchs - Prophet Ibrahim's temple. The Jewish militant Baruch Goldstein massacred in the cave (Temple) territory during the morning praying of Muslims in 1994. As a result, 29 Palestinians were killed and Goldstein was killed by Israeli police.
Upon the decision by the Israeli occupation authorities, the Cave of the Patriarchs was divided into two parts - the Jewish and Muslim.
