Islamic bloc wants action to stop heritage sites plan
Syrian ambassador condemns 'illegality and illegitimacy' of Israeli decision, which Islamic states view as 'null and void'
The Islamic bloc at the United Nations on Thursday called for international action to force Israel to rescind its decision to renovate two contested holy sites in the West Bank.
Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) UN ambassadors, condemned the "illegality and illegitimacy" of the Israeli decision which they view as "null and void".
They called on all relevant UN bodies "to take urgent, necessary measures to force Israel to rescind this decision" and urged the Security Council, the General Assembly and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to "shoulder their responsibility".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked outrage earlier this week when he said he hoped to include Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron in a national heritage restoration plan.
The two sites are revered by Jews and Muslims, and the Tomb of the Patriarchs, where the biblical figure Abraham is believed buried, has been a flashpoint of Israeli-Palestinian violence for decades.
