[JPost] Palestinian residents of Hebron, with the assistance of Emek Shaveh, an Israeli NGO seeking to prevent the politicization of archaeology in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have submitted a complaint to the IDF's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Thursday over a proposed elevator for persons with disabilities at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, according to a press release from the group.The press release noted that Palestinians in Hebron are objecting to the elevator on the basis that the was illegally approved by a transitional government, in addition to contraventions of international agreements to which Israel is a signatory, and potential damage to the site caused by future construction.
Emek Shaveh also accused the plan of promoting unilateral actions in disputed areas, while claiming that its alleged humanitarian motivation of making the site accessible to persons with disabilities is a facade for changing the status quo in the area.
The NGO claims that the plan came to fruition a few days prior to Yamina MK Naftali Bennett vacating his position as Defense Minister upon the establishment the Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, when he signed the permit for the construction of the elevator. They also note that site is under the authority of the Hebron municipality and the land with its structures belongs to the Islamic Waqf.