Smotrich Says Hebron Agreement Planning Powers Have Been Revoked

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves in the Defense Ministry, announced on Tuesday that Israel has completed a move to cancel the planning and construction arrangements of the Hebron Accords. Under the decision, authority over planning and building in the Jewish community in Hebron and at holy sites, including the Cave of the Patriarchs, has been removed from the Hebron municipality and returned to full Israeli state control.

Smotrich made the announcement at a ceremony marking the new settlement of Doran in the Mount Hebron area. He said he had initiated the step and brought it to the political-security cabinet for approval several months ago, and that the required decisions were finalized on Monday by the Higher Planning Council in Judea and Samaria.

“Yesterday we canceled the Hebron Accords,” Smotrich said at the event. He added that “for many long years, one of the most absurd Oslo clauses remained in force, when the powers concerning the Jewish community in Hebron and the holy places were dependent on the terror municipality of Hebron.”

According to Smotrich, “Yesterday we put an end to it. This is much more than a planning step. This is a historic correction. We are continuing the revolution of regulating settlement, strengthening governance, and deepening Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.” The article says more details will follow.