the authorities did not permit the al-ghabisiyya's residents to carry out the requested renovation of the mosque and cemetery. the land of the village, including the mosque, had been acquired by the israel land administration (ila) under one of the laws regarding land expropriation, and not the ministry of religion, which is responsible for holy places. in 1994 members of the village committee began renovating the mosque and praying there. in january 1996 the ila sealed the entrance of the mosque, but the villagers broke through the fence and again used the mosque for prayers. the villagers appealed to prime minister shimon peres in april 1996, they received a reply on his behalf from one of his aides: