Israel Revokes Palestinian Authority Over Ibrahimi Mosque in West Bank
Heba Habib
Israel has revoked Palestinian planning and construction rights at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, a unilateral move condemned by Palestinian authorities as a violation of international accords. Finance Minister Smotrich announced the decision, which critics warn escalates tensions and threatens regional stability.
Israel has officially stripped the Palestinian Authority of planning and construction rights at the Ibrahimi Mosque (also known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs) in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed the news on December 9, stating the decision aims to partially annul the 1997 Hebron Agreement.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Doran settlement south of Mount Hebron, Smotrich said, “Yesterday, we annulled the Hebron agreements.” Under the 1997 agreement signed by then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat, Hebron was divided into two zones: Israel controls security in area H2, which includes the Jewish settlement and the Ibrahimi Mosque, while civil authority, including planning and construction, remained with the Palestinian Authority.
The decision was approved by Israel’s Supreme Planning Council on the evening of December 8. However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry quickly issued a statement on social media denying the complete annulment of the Hebron Agreement: “Contrary to the finance minister’s statement, the Hebron Agreement has not been annulled.” The ministry said the cabinet decision from months earlier was solely aimed at transferring planning and construction authority over Jewish settlements and Jewish heritage sites, citing “a lack of full cooperation from the Hebron municipality.”
“Otherwise, no changes have occurred,” the Foreign Ministry stressed.
The Palestinian Authority immediately condemned the move. President Mahmoud Abbas’s office issued a statement calling it an illegal act: “Such unilateral measures are unacceptable and constitute a violation of agreements signed by Israel, as well as international law.” The statement urged the international community, particularly the United States, to intervene immediately to prevent “this most dangerous step.”
Hebron Mayor Yusuf al-Jabari emphasized that the Hebron agreements are “a political framework regulating administrative, security, and service arrangements in Hebron.” He warned that any unilateral modification outside existing international agreements constitutes “a serious violation” and would have far-reaching consequences for regional stability.
The Ibrahimi Mosque (Tomb of the Patriarchs) has long been a flashpoint for conflict between Jews and Muslims. Following the 1997 protocol, Jewish settlers gained control over half of the site. In 2017, Palestine inscribed the Old City of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger.
Israeli peace group Peace Now criticized the move as “a dangerous and irresponsible step by a failed politician, willing to harm Israel’s interests and security to collect a few votes from the far-right.” Meanwhile, Palestinians view it as one of the latest steps toward Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank.
