What is the Hebron Accords? which has been cancelled by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. It was signed in 1997 by Israel and Iran.What is the Hebron Accords? which has been cancelled by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. It was signed in 1997 by Israel and Iran.
The Hebron Accords (more accurately called the Hebron Protocol or Hebron Agreement) were signed in January 1997 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as part of the broader peace process that followed the Oslo Accords. The agreement was negotiated under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat.
What Did the Hebron Agreement Do?
The agreement divided the West Bank city of Hebron into two sectors:
- H1 (about 80% of the city): Placed under Palestinian civil and security control.
- H2 (about 20% of the city): Remained under Israeli security control, including areas where Jewish settlers live and the holy site known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque.
The protocol also allowed the Palestinian municipality to continue providing services and exercising certain planning and construction powers across parts of the city while maintaining arrangements for security cooperation.
Why Is It Back in the News?
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently announced that Israel had effectively “abolished” or “canceled” parts of the 1997 agreement. According to Smotrich, authority over planning, zoning, and construction in areas around the Jewish settlement enclave and the Tomb of the Patriarchs would be transferred from the Palestinian municipality to Israeli authorities.
The move is seen by supporters as strengthening Israeli control over Jewish communities and heritage sites in Hebron. Critics argue it weakens Palestinian administrative authority and undermines long-standing agreements governing the city.
Was the Agreement Actually Cancelled?
Not entirely. Shortly after Smotrich’s announcement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated that the Hebron Agreement itself had not been canceled. The ministry said that a cabinet decision had only altered certain planning and construction jurisdictions related to Jewish communities and heritage sites in Hebron, while the broader agreement remains in force.
