Russia Slams Israel for Adding West Bank Mosques to Heritage List

MOSCOW, February 26, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Moscow disapproves of Israel's decision to put two mosques in the West Bank on its national heritage list which would hamper the resumption of peace dialogue, a senior Russian diplomat said on Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to add Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil (Hebron) and Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem to a list of 150 so-called Jewish heritage sites subject to renovation.

"We have repeatedly said that we are categorically against any steps and actions that foreshadow the outcome of negotiations on a final Palestinian-Israeli settlement, and which cannot but hamper efforts contributing to the resumption of dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said.

He described the inclusion of the two Muslim mosques in the occupied West Bank into the list of Israeli heritage as such an action.

"The more so since this concerns the most delicate issues having deep religious roots and they should be treated with utmost care and respect," the Russian diplomat said.

Earlier on Friday, the United Nations' cultural arm, UNESCO, expressed its concern about the Israeli decision.

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