Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announces historic Hebron building plan and takes control of Cave of the Patri

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said a historic shift has occurred in Hebron after the Israeli government approved new construction plans, the first such approval since the 1997 Hebron Agreement that limited Jewish building in the city. Smotrich presented the move as evidence of Israel’s "actual government and sovereignty" over the West Bank area.

He also declared that the administration of the Cave of the Patriarchs – known to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque and revered by Jews and Christians – would no longer be under the Palestinian Authority but placed under Israeli control. The Palestinian Authority protested the decision, while Israel’s foreign ministry said the change reflected adjustments to benefit Jewish settlers rather than a cancellation of existing accords. The actions are part of a broader expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing criticism from the United States and other members of the international community.