Palestinian Cabinet Meets in Town at Center of Shrine Dispute
VOA News 01 March 2010
The Palestinian Authority has held its weekly cabinet meeting in the West Bank town of Hebron to affirm its rights to a local shrine also claimed by Israel.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called the meeting in Hebron instead of Ramallah Monday to reject Israel's plan to include the Tomb of Patriarchs in its heritage restoration project.
The tomb is holy to both Muslims and Jews and rests in an area the Palestinians want as part of a future state.
The Palestinians also object to Israel's plan to include another shrine, Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, in the Jewish heritage project.
The controversy has sparked days of violent protests in Hebron.
In East Jerusalem Monday, Israeli police say a gunman slightly wounded a security guard. The shooter's motivation is unclear.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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