W Bank cabinet in shrine protest

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The Palestinian Authority has shifted its weekly cabinet meeting from its usual location in Ramallah to Hebron, in a symbolic protest against Israel.

The move follows Israel's announcement that two West Bank shrines are to be included in a list of its national heritage sites.

There have been daily clashes between stone-throwing youths and Israeli troops in Hebron for the past week.

Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad said the cabinet "absolutely rejected" the plan.

"These monuments are in Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, and this is the same land on which we are going to establish an independent Palestinian state," the prime minister said.

Just over a week ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, known to Muslims as the al-Ibrahimi mosque, and the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem would be included in a $107m (£69m) restoration plan.

Israeli officials denied that Muslims would be denied access and said there had been a misunderstanding.