Abbas slams Israeli plan for shrine
Cave of the Patriarchs holy to both sides
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | 5:03 PM ET
The Associated Press
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is critical of Israel's plan to declare the Cave of the Patriarchs a national heritage site. (Faisal Mahmood/Reuters)The Palestinian president warned Tuesday that the region could plunge into a "religious war" over Israel's plan to recognize a disputed West Bank shrine as one of its own national heritage sites.
Mahmoud Abbas spoke during a visit to Belgium, following an announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron earlier this week.
The Hebron site is holy to both Jews and Muslims. Jews revere it as the traditional burial place of the Bible's Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Muslims also see Abraham as their forefather, and control of the shrine is a flashpoint between Palestinians and Israelis.
Palestinians rioted in Hebron on Monday to protest the Israeli decision, and tension continued Tuesday.
After Abbas spoke, Nir Hefez, a spokesman for Netanyahu, denounced the criticism of the Israeli move.
"This is a hypocritical campaign of lies," Hefez said in a statement, insisting that Israel is "dedicated to the freedom of worship of the members of all religions at all the holy sites."
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