The Israeli army installed, on Monday, a new surveillance room at the main entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the center of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.Head of the Islamic Waqf Department in Hebron, Ibrahim Abu Sneina, said that Israel continues to impose further restrictions on Muslim worshipers and visitors, adding that the new room and equipment are another harassment.
Abu Sneina added that Israel continues its plans to turn the mosque into a synagogue, to be only used by Jewish worshipers, in direct violation of international agreements, and the Freedom of Worship.
He said that his department filed an appeal to the Israeli side, demanding the removal of this room and the removal of all restrictions imposed by the army leading to limiting and, in many cases, preventing the entry of Muslim worshipers into the mosque.
It is worth mentioning that Israel frequently prevents Muslim worshipers from entering the mosque, and repeatedly prevents the sheiks from using speakers to call for prayers.
The Ibrahimi Mosque, also referred to as the “Cave of the Patriarchs,’ is the site of a brutal massacre carried out by American-born Israeli Baruch Goldstein, on February 25, 1994, during which unarmed Palestinian Muslims praying inside the mosque were shot in cold blood by Goldstein.
The attack left 29 dead and 125 wounded; Goldstein was beaten to death by the survivors.
Since then, Israel started enforcing strict security measures limiting and, in many cases, denying the entry of Muslims into the mosque.
Groups of fanatic Israeli settlers in the city continue to conduct attacks against the Palestinians in the city.
