Nir Hefetz, one of Israel's top hasbara officials, condemned comments by Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas that the Machpelah Cave and Kever Rachel were "Palestinian sites." Hefetz said that this was a campaign of lies, and is hypocritical as well. The state of Israel is dedicated to freedom of worship for members of all religions at all holy places, and acts accordingly. Kever Rachel and the Machpelah Cave are ancient burial places, 3,500 years old, and are the resting place of the fathers and mothers of the nation,h Hefetz said.