Israel's Civil Administration has approved a new building plan for the Jewish community in Hebron, marking the first such approval since the 1997 Hebron Agreement. The decision follows a push by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has advocated for greater Israeli sovereignty in the area.
The plan, reported by Israeli media on June 16, 2026, includes the construction of new housing units in the Jewish quarter of the city. The Hebron Agreement, signed in 1997, divided the city into two zones: H1 under Palestinian Authority control and H2 under Israeli military control, where the Jewish settlement is located.
According to the Israeli NGO Peace Now, this is the first time since the agreement that a building plan has been advanced for the Jewish community in Hebron. The approval has drawn criticism from Palestinian officials and international observers, who view it as a violation of the Oslo Accords.
Finance Minister Smotrich, who also holds authority over settlement planning, has been a vocal proponent of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In a statement, he praised the approval as a step toward strengthening Israeli presence in Hebron.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned the move, calling it a provocation and a violation of international law. The United Nations has previously stated that Israeli settlements in occupied territories are illegal under international law.
