Smotrich claims historic Hebron shift as Israel advances new building plans (opens original article in a new tab)

Israel's Higher Planning Council approved construction in the West Bank without Hebron municipality approval, marking a shift in settlement policy, though the Foreign Ministry clarified the Hebron Agreement remains intact.

• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed to have ended dependence on the Hebron municipality for Jewish settlement approvals.
• The Higher Planning Council approved construction in the West Bank without Hebron municipality approval, the first such approval since 1997.
• The Foreign Ministry clarified that the Hebron Agreement itself was not canceled, only specific planning and construction authorities were transferred.