CRIHL statement regarding the destruction of the Mosque in Al-Mafkara

On the morning of Tuesday the 4th of December 2012, in Al-Mafkara near Yatta in the southern Hebron region, a mosque was dismantled by the Israeli security forces on the grounds that it was considered an illegal construction. The Palestinians on the other hand consider this a legal construction.

Despite questions of legality, the Council urges that special consideration be given to places of worship so that each person may worship in his or her community; and that special dispensations be considered for the construction of places of worship.

The Council calls respective authorities to prevent any desecration or offense to religious sensibilities.

The Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land consists of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, The Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs at the PA and The Heads of the Local Churches of the Holy Land.