Palestinian Authority condemns Smotrich over Hebron planning powers move

The Palestinian presidential office, led by Mahmoud Abbas, strongly condemned Finance Minister and Defense Ministry Minister Bezalel Smotrich after he said, “We annulled the Hebron Accords.” It warned that his remarks and the move behind them could damage the political process and the two-state solution.

The backlash followed Smotrich’s announcement at the ceremony marking the new settlement of Duran in the Hebron Hills. He said a process had been completed to transfer planning and building authority in the Jewish community in Hebron and in Jewish heritage sites, including the Cave of the Patriarchs, from the Hebron municipality to the State of Israel.

In its statement, the presidential office said these unilateral steps were “unacceptable,” worthy of condemnation, and contrary to the agreements signed with Israel, international legitimacy, and international law, which it said forbids changing the status quo in the land of the State of Palestine under occupation. Officials in Ramallah warned the decision could harm regional stability and international efforts toward a future settlement.

The Palestinian presidency called on the international community, especially the U.S. administration, to intervene immediately and work to cancel the decision. Israel’s Foreign Ministry later clarified that Smotrich’s claim was inaccurate, saying the Hebron Agreement itself had not been canceled, only that the cabinet had approved a specific decision on planning and building powers in Jewish Hebron and related heritage sites.