Smotrich says he’s ‘abolished Hebron agreement,’ given Israel more power in flashpoint city

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Smotrich’s Hebron move: Israel seizes control of planning, approves settler construction

   Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared the 1997 Hebron Agreement abolished, transferring full Israeli authority over construction and planning in the city. The Israeli government has approved 576 new housing units, including a 1,000-square-meter building for a settler yeshiva, marking a direct challenge to Palestinian autonomy. The US and Palestinian factions have condemned the unilateral shift, while Israel’s Foreign Ministry denies any change to the agreement. This escalation follows decades of limited Israeli oversight in Hebron’s H1 area.

   What's confirmed:

   • Israel’s Higher Planning Council approved 576 housing units in Hebron’s H1 area, including a 1,000-square-meter building for Shavei Hebron Yeshiva, days after Smotrich’s announcement.
   • The move contradicts Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which insists the 1997 Hebron Agreement remains in effect and that Palestinian oversight of construction in H1 is unchanged.
   • Palestinian officials and Muslim groups have condemned the construction approvals as a violation of past accords, with some calling it a step toward unilateral annexation.
   • The US has warned against any actions that undermine the two-state solution or violate international law, framing the construction push as destabilizing.
   • This is the first time in decades that Israel has approved major construction in Hebron’s H1 area without Palestinian consent.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Smotrich has fully abolished the Hebron Agreement, though the Foreign Ministry has not confirmed this as official government policy.
   confidence 88%
2. 5h ago

   Smotrich claims Hebron agreement abolished, Israel seizes mosque city powers

   Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the abolition of the 1997 Hebron Agreement, transferring control of planning and construction in Hebron—including the Ibrahimi Mosque—from Palestinian to Israeli authority. The move contradicts Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which insists the agreement remains intact. Palestinians and Muslim groups have condemned the action as a violation of past accords, while the US warned against unilateral annexation efforts. Construction approvals in Hebron without Palestinian consent mark a first in decades.

   What's confirmed:

   • Under the 1997 Hebron Agreement, the Palestinian-run Hebron Municipality held authority over planning and construction across the city, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs and the Ibrahimi Mosque.
   • Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared on June 17, 2026, that he had abolished the Hebron Agreement and transferred control of the city’s Jewish enclave—including the Ibrahimi Mosque—from Palestinian to Israeli jurisdiction.
   • Israel’s Foreign Ministry denied Smotrich’s claim, stating the Hebron Agreement remains in effect and that no cancellation occurred.
   • The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s actions as a violation of agreements and demanded accountability, while a Muslim advocacy group denounced the move at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
   • This is the first time Israel has approved construction in Hebron without Palestinian consent since the 1997 agreement.
   • The US warned Israel against actions that could undermine peace efforts or lead to unilateral annexation in the West Bank.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The Hebron Agreement was signed in 1997 between Israel and Iran.
   • Smotrich’s move is part of a broader effort to extend Israeli control throughout the West Bank.
   confidence 95%