Israel takes Hebron planning authority from Palestinians

Israel has transferred planning and construction authority over key parts of the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank from the Palestinian municipality to Israeli control, a move that Palestinian officials and international bodies have condemned as a violation of long-standing agreements. The decision, announced by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, directly affects the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque, known to Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, and adjacent Jewish settlements.

Smotrich stated that he had abolished the relevant civil planning provisions of the 1997 Hebron Agreement, which had granted the Palestinian municipality authority over planning, zoning, and construction across the entire city, including areas under Israeli security control. He described the move as a historic step to deepen Israeli sovereignty in the territory. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later sought to clarify that the broader Hebron Agreement had not been canceled in its entirety, asserting that only specific powers related to Jewish communities and holy sites were transferred due to what it called a complete lack of cooperation from the Palestinian...