Smotrich Says Hebron Agreement Has Been Revoked

Finance Minister and Defense Ministry minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday at the inauguration ceremony for the new community of Doran in Judea and Samaria that he had canceled the Hebron Agreement. He said that in February 2026 he brought the decision to the political and security cabinet for approval, and that last night he completed the order through the Higher Planning Council.

According to the report, the move strips Hebron Municipality of planning and building powers it received in 1998. Until now, planning decisions in the Jewish community in Hebron and at holy sites required approval from Hebron Municipality or, in exceptional cases, a special political approval. Those powers now no longer sit with the municipality and have been returned to full Israeli state responsibility.

Smotrich said, "Yesterday we canceled the Hebron Accords." He added that for years one of the most absurd Oslo clauses had remained in place, leaving authority over the Jewish community in Hebron and the holy places dependent on what he called "the terror municipality of Hebron." He described the step as "much more than a planning move," calling it "a historic correction" and saying Israel is continuing "the settlement regularization revolution, strengthening governance, and deepening Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria."

The Peace Now movement condemned the decision, saying that after the government promised victory and failed on every front, Smotrich was trying to inflame the West Bank. It called the move dangerous and irresponsible and accused him of harming Israel's interests and security in order to win a few far-right votes for Itamar Ben Gvir.