Israel implements Judaization project at Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron
Israel has begun implementing a Judaization project at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to install an external elevator, open a route for pedestrians and a parking lot, amid Palestinians' protests that are likely to escalate in the coming weeks.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Nearly 20,000 Palestinians from Hebron governorate, in the southern West Bank, performed Friday prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) on Aug. 13, to stress the Islamic identity of the site, in the face of the Israeli Judaization efforts made in its outer courtyards.
On Aug. 12, the Directorate of Religious Endowments in Hebron decided to close all the mosques in the city calling on worshippers to pray at the Ibrahimi Mosque, which is believed to have been constructed on the tomb of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), in a bid to defend it and protect it from Israeli plans. Thousands of Palestinians responded to the call, amid tight Israeli security measures.
The Israeli forces, which were deployed in the vicinity of the site and the old city, prevented hundreds of young men from entering the site, and fired tear gas at worshippers, after driving them out of its courtyards.
On Aug. 10, the Israeli authorities began excavation works in the southern outer courtyards of the site under strict security measures, as part of the project that would alter the features of the Ibrahimi Mosque.
