The day after Netanyahu declared the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarchs holy site in Hebron as an "Israeli national heritage site", Mustafa Barghouti visited the mosque. After his visit, I caught Dr. Barghouti on film explaining how this decision to incorporate two sites in Occupied Palestinian Territory – this site and Bilal Mosque or Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem – continued the Israeli process of "gradual annexation" of the West Bank. I continued filming Dr. Barghouti as he exited through one of the checkpoints that Palestinians are required to pass through to visit the Ibrahimi Mosque.
While the New York Times and other major U.S. news outlets have highlighted competing religious claims to understand the tension arising from the "Israeli national heritage plan", Barghouti compellingly articulates the political rationale of the Netanyahu announcement. Barghouti called it a "clear cut provocation" and continuation of policy.
And what about the argument that this is simply "about renovating important historical and religious sites of the Jewish people," as Netanyahu’s spokesman Mark Regev has said, and affirming the importance of these sites to Jewish heritage?
The problem with this logic is that land in Hebron, Bethlehem, or anywhere else in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is not Israeli national territory. Israel has no more right to unilaterally nationalize Jewish heritage sites in the West Bank than it does to unilaterally nationalize The Great Synagogue of Florence in Italy. While no one would take seriously a unilateral Israeli decision to declare a synagogue in Europe as Israeli national property, such a declaration in Occupied Palestinian Territory inflames the conflict and jeopardizes the very notion of any prospects for future Palestinian sovereignty over Palestinian territory.
Barghouti points out that what is particularly provocative is the fact that this declaration comes after a series of Netanyahu’s claims of entitlement to annex Palestinian land:
Claim 1:
"Jerusalem is not for negotiations and it will remain unified as a Jewish city"
Claim 2:
"Settlement blocs will become part of Israel"
Claim 3:
After President Abbas warned that Israel’s nationalization of West Bank heritage sites could spark a new war, Netanyahu’s spokesman Mark Regev dismissed ascribing such importance to this declaration, stating that "this is not in anyway changing the status quo".
It remains to be seen whether Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarch’s status as an "Israeli national heritage site" will affect Palestinian access to the fourth holiest Muslim site in the heart of one of the largest Palestinian cities. Barghouti pointed out that the declaration was ominously made only four days before the 16th anniversary of the massacre committed by an Israeli settler who killed 29 Palestinians. After the massacre the Israeli government divided the mosque, prohibiting Palestinians from using the part that is now used as a synagogue outside of specified holidays.
But even if the decision doesn’t affect access, the Israeli nationalist claim is certainly a step Netanyahu has taken to further entrench the status quo where Israel controls all Palestinian access to a holy site deep in Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Katya Reed is the nom-de-plume of a journalist based in Bethlehem, West Bank, Occupied Palestine.
