Israel Transfers Control of Hebron Holy Site

Israel has transferred administrative powers over parts of Hebron in the West Bank to a local settlement council. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the move reverses elements of a 1997 agreement that delegated those responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority.

The decision affects the Tomb of the Patriarchs, one of Judaism's holiest sites, and the adjacent Ibrahimi Mosque, which is revered by Muslims.

Palestinian officials condemned the measure as a violation of international law and an infringement on Hebron's status. Smotrich described it as a historic step that strengthens Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.

The move forms part of a broader policy pursued by the Israeli government.

Hebron remains one of the most sensitive locations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(Reuters, mja)