Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich revoked the Hebron municipality’s civil planning and construction authorities under the 1997 Hebron Agreement, transferring full control to Israeli military and state authorities. He announced the completion of procedures nullifying the civil planning provisions of the agreement, affecting the governance of Hebron including its holy sites such as the Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as the Ibrahimi Mosque [1, 2].

Under the 1997 Hebron Agreement, the city was split into two sectors: H1, controlled by the Palestinian Authority, and H2, under Israeli security control but with civil planning powers still held by the Palestinian municipality. Smotrich’s revocation ends that arrangement by removing the municipality’s authority over construction and planning in both areas, including Jewish settlements and religious sites [2].

Smotrich framed the move as correcting an "absurd provision" in the Oslo Accords, stating, "For many years, one of the most absurd provisions of the Oslo Accords remained in effect — the administrative powers over the Jewish settlement bloc in Hebron and its holy sites were tied to the Palestinian municipality of Hebron" [2].

The shift follows a package of resolutions approved in February by Israel’s Security Cabinet. These resolutions, initiated by Smotrich, aim to reshape legal and civil control in the occupied West Bank [2].

The public announcement of the revocation came on June 16, with confirmation the next day that authority, including control over the Cave of the Patriarchs, had been transferred to the Israeli army [1, 2].

The change ends more than two decades in which the Palestinian municipality retained some civil authority in Hebron’s H2 sector. Israeli military and state authorities now hold full planning powers over the city, overseeing developments and administrative control previously managed by the Palestinian local government [1, 2].

Further implementation measures related to the transfer of authority are expected to be outlined by Israeli officials in the upcoming weeks.