Israel has formally assumed planning and construction powers at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the West Bank, ending an arrangement that had been in place for nearly three decades.
The move affects the Tomb of the Patriarchs, known to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the city of Hebron. The site is revered by both Jews and Muslims and has long stood at the centre of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday that he had approved the transfer of authority from the Palestinian Authority to Israeli officials.
Under the 1997 Hebron Agreement, planning and construction powers in the city, including around the shrine, were administered by the Palestinian Authority.
Smotrich described the decision as a "historic step" that would strengthen Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. The far-right minister made the announcement during an event marking the establishment of a new Israeli settlement near Hebron.
The Palestinian Authority strongly condemned the move. The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said it was an infringement on Hebron's political and legal status and a violation of international law.
For many Palestinians, the decision is another sign of growing Israeli control over territory they hope will form the core of a future independent state. Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East war, but its claim to sovereignty over the territory is not recognised internationally.
The announcement comes at a sensitive time. Israel is expected to hold elections by the end of October, and Smotrich, a settler himself, has long advocated the annexation of the West Bank. His political support is closely tied to the settler movement, which views the territory as part of the Jewish biblical homeland.
The transfer of powers was originally approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet in February. It forms part of a broader push to expand Israeli authority in the West Bank and make it easier for settlers to acquire land.
Settlement expansion has accelerated in recent years under Smotrich's influence. The growth has been accompanied by rising violence across the territory.
Hebron remains one of the most divided and emotionally charged cities in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 1994, a Jewish settler killed 29 Muslim worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque, an attack that continues to shape relations around the site.
The shrine remains sacred to both faiths and is viewed by many as a symbol of the wider struggle over land, identity and sovereignty in the West Bank.
According to United Nations data, settlers have killed 13 Palestinians so far this year. Most countries and United Nations bodies consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects, citing historical, religious and security arguments.
The latest move is likely to deepen concerns among international observers, who fear it could further complicate prospects for a negotiated two-state solution and increase tensions on the ground.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not ...
Pakistan is tightening enforcement of its Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan ahead of a July 10 deadline, after which Afghan nationals living in th...
Afghan officials have agreed to expanded cooperation with the United Nations regarding housing and jobs for returning Afghan citizens. ...
The European Union's General Court has dismissed Ryanair's appeals against an Italian state aid scheme approved by the European Commission in 2020 to support airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flooding across parts of China is expected to worsen as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches the country's coast this weekend, becoming the second tropical cyclone to strike the country in a week. Authorities have warned that more provinces could be affected.
More than 6,300 people from around the world have begun the annual Peace March in Bosnia and Herzegovina, retracing the route taken by thousands of Bosniaks who fled the Srebrenica genocide in July 1995.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to become one of 2026’s biggest films, bringing Homer’s ancient epic to life with a $250 million budget. From real ships and thousands of extras to heated debates over casting choices, here are 10 facts about the ambitious adaptation.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Massive crowds are gathering in the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran's slain former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as part of a week-long farewell. His son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Pakistan is tightening enforcement of its Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan ahead of a July 10 deadline, after which Afghan nationals living in the country without valid visas face immediate arrest under an Interior Ministry directive.
Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to seek a new presidential term under the country's newly adopted constitution. It's after a referendum on the constitution in March reset presidential term limits - a move that could extend his time in power.
Pakistan's military on Monday linked cross-border militancy, hybrid threats and water security during the 276th Corps Commanders' Conference, reaffirming continued intelligence-based counterterrorism operations and support for the government's position on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Ramzan Kadyrov has been left off the ruling United Russia party's election list for Chechnya for the first time since 2007, fuelling fresh speculation about his political future and succession plans.
Afghanistan's disaster authority says it and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are seeking to expand cooperation on emergency response as the country continues to face floods, earthquakes, drought and the long-term threat from mines and unexploded ordnance.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment