(Gatestone Institute) Bassam Tawil - Palestinian leaders have condemned an Israeli plan to install an elevator for disabled people at the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron. The 2,000-year-old structure built by King Herod to house the Cave of Machpela, burial site of the biblical founding fathers and mothers, has only steep staircases for entrances. The decision to build the elevator came in response to the Israeli Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law that requires every public structure to be fully accessible to the disabled. PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki condemned the elevator plan as an Israeli "war crime" and a "violation of international law." PLO leader Hanan Ashrawi denounced the elevator project on July 25 and accused Israel of "stealing Palestinian history, holy sites and identity and provoking the feelings of Muslims." Palestinian leaders have demanded that the International Criminal Court launch a "war crimes" probe against Israel for planning to facilitate access for Jews to pray at a site that is holy for Jews.
2020-08-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive