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Israel seizes power over occupied West Bank mosque from Palestinians
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the cancellation of parts of the 1997 Hebron Agreement, seizing planning and construction powers at the Ibrahimi Mosque from Palestinian authorities.
- The Hebron Agreement had granted Palestinians civil control, including planning and construction, in Hebron, while Israel retained security control over certain sectors including the Jewish settlement and the mosque area.
- Israel's Foreign Ministry clarified that the agreement was not canceled entirely, stating that only planning authority related to Jewish settlements and heritage sites was affected due to lack of cooperation from the Hebron municipality.
- The Palestinian Authority condemned the move as unlawful and a violation of international law, urging international intervention, while Hebron's mayor warned of serious consequences from unilateral changes to the agreement.
- Israeli peace group Peace Now criticized the decision as politically motivated and dangerous, accusing Smotrich of risking regional security for political gain.
