Palestinian Authority condemns move in Hebron as a violation of international law.
Image: Al Jazeera
Israel has transferred planning and construction authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and nearby Jewish settler areas in Hebron from Palestinian officials to Israeli authorities.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the decision as a historic step that would strengthen Israeli sovereignty in the occupied West Bank.
The move alters parts of the 1997 Hebron Agreement, under which Palestinians held planning and construction powers across the city.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision, calling it a violation of international law and an attack on Hebron’s political and legal status.
Hebron’s Old City is a UNESCO-recognised Palestinian heritage site and home to both Palestinian residents and Israeli settlers.
The Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs, is a holy site for Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Israeli officials said the broader Hebron Agreement remains in place and accused the local Palestinian municipality of failing to cooperate on planning matters.
The decision comes amid continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a policy widely criticised by the United Nations and many countries.
The issue is expected to add further tension to an already fragile Israeli-Palestinian situation.
