re: #29 austin_blue

Hmmm…does Islam claim it, too, or are they just pissed because it’s in East ‘Salem?

Islam considers the site religiously important because Machpelah is the burial place of Abraham. They’ve honored it for centuries, building a mosque over the caves, and, unfortunately, forbidding Jews to pray there for at least part of the time Muslims controlled the area. (Not sure about pre-twentieth century.) The father of a woman I know grew up in a Jewish family in Baghdad. His father used to take the trip to Hebron each year to pray near the Tomb of the Patriarchs, but was not permitted to actually go into the complex.

In addition, there’s been a developing trend of Palestinian denial of Jewish connection to various holy and historic sites, plus there’s the land control issue.