- Title: WEST BANK: STRICT NEW SECURITY AS TOMB OF THE PATRIARCHS IS RE-OPENED
- Date: 7th November 1994
- Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 7, 1994) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV EXTERIORS OF TOMB OF THE PATRIARCHS 0.06 2. GV VARIOUS OF SECURITY/ VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING GROUNDS (6 SHOTS) 0.57 3. GV VARIOUS OF MOSLEMS AT PRAYER/ PALESTINIAN MAN INSIDE MOSLEM SECTION (2 SHOTS) 1.09 4. GV VARIOUS OF JEWS AT AT PRAYER (2 SHOTS) 1.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 22nd November 1994 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: HEBRON, WEST BANK
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Reuters ID: LVAC1I9VSSX22OTWLZRNG4COJFS1
- Story Text: Israel imposed strict new security rules on Monday (November 7) when it reopened the Hebron holy site the Tomb of the Patriarchs, closed since the massacre of 30 Moslem worshippers by a Jewish settler in February.
The army opened the newly whitewashed shrine for morning prayers to Moslems and Jews but few Palestinians attended. Both communities found fault with new measures requiring they use separate entrances and confine their prayers to separate halls.
Arabs complained they should be allowed full access to the tomb which they insisted should be only for use by Moslems.
Israelis had to check in their personal weapons before entering the site. Prior to the massacre, settlers entered the ancient site armed. Security cameras had also been installed.
On Monday an 11-year-old Arab boy complained he was stabbed by a Jew outside the tomb. He showed a scratched hand to Israeli police who took him to their station.
The Israeli cabinet, voting unanimously on Sunday to reopen the site after the eight-month closure, hoped to turn a new page in the violent history of the Israeli-occupied West Bank town.
The army said the tomb would open only on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday during a week's trial period before opening daily from November 15.
The tomb is the traditional burial place of the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moslems know it as al-Haram al-Ibrahimi for the prophet Ibrahim of the Koran.
On February 25, Baruch Goldstein, a U.S.-born Jewish settler burst into part of the tomb where Moslems were praying, opened fire and killed about 30 worshippers before others beat him to death.
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