Israel to seize powers from Hebron City Hall to erect shade at Tomb of the Patriarchs

IDF soldiers near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

Hagar Shezaf reports in Haaretz on 17 July 2025:

Israel’s Civil Administration will seize powers from the Hebron municipality, which is run by the Palestinian Authority, to install shade at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in one of the most contested cities in the West Bank.

The decision was taken after the head of the Hebron District Coordination and Liaison Office, Lt.-Col. Ayman Bissan wrote to Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin in February that if no solution to the site’s roofing were found, the municipality’s powers would be transferred to the National Planning and Building Council.

The Civil Administration initially told Haaretz that the Kiryat Arba Religious Council is considered for carrying out the roofing work on the Jewish side of the site. After the report, however, the administration said there has been a mistake and the council was never considered.

Under the Hebron Accords, signed as part of the Oslo Accords, planning powers at the site belong to the Hebron municipality. Since it is not formally mandated to carry out Israeli requests at the site, any Israeli action related to construction requires seizing powers from the municipality.

Hebron municipality lawyer, Samer Shahada told Haaretz that it had not received official notice about seizing its powers. Right-wing activist Shai Glick, who has sought for years to change the status quo at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, said that in addition to the roofing work, there were plans to install air conditioning and firefighting arrangements.

“After the tomb was made accessible, it’s time that the Tomb of the Patriarchs be dignified, with a roof, air conditioning, comfort and more,” he argued. “The time for sovereignty has come.” The tomb is divided between Jews and the Palestinians, with one side occasionally receiving exclusive access.

Two years ago, Israel seized similar powers to install an elevator at the tomb. The elevator, intended to provide access to the tomb to people with special needs, was criticized by both Jews and Palestinians. At the time, Shahada said that it was a lethal blow to one of the religious and cultural assets of Hebron’s Old City.

“The elevator building stands there like an inappropriate sore thumb that does not integrate with the character and values of the site,” he said. “Seizing the planning and building powers from the municipality is another infringement of the local Palestinian population.”

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in response: “At the instructions and approval of the government echelon, staff work is underway at this time. The plan is in advanced stages and its objective is to provide shade to the Tomb of the Patriarchs’ courtyard for the benefit of the people who pray there.”

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