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Hebron

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Hebron is a very old city.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
It is in the West Bank. Many people live there. It is a busy place to trade. You can see many shops.
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Have you ever visited a busy market?

50 words

Hebron is a very old city.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
It sits in the West Bank. It is south of Jerusalem.

Many people live in this busy place. It is a large center for trade. People sell things like glass and pottery.

Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg

Hebron is a holy place for many. It has a special cave. This cave is a very old site.

Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg

The city has many shops. You can find big malls there. It also has narrow streets.

Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg

Hebron is a place where history lives on. It is a very important city.

115 words

Hebron is a large city in the southern West Bank.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
It sits south of Jerusalem. Many people live here. Over 700,000 people live in the wider area. Hebron is the third largest city in the country.

This city is a very old place. It is one of the oldest cities in the Levant. It is a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. A special site is the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
The Bible says Abraham lived here. He bought the cave as a burial place. Many people believe holy figures are buried there.

Hebron is a busy center for trade and work. It is famous for making many things. People make glass, pottery, and ceramics.

Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
They also make metalwork and clothing. The city sells a lot of limestone from nearby quarries. You can find big shopping malls here. The Old City has narrow, winding streets and old markets.
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
The city is also a hub for doctors and schools.

189 words

Hebron is a large city in the southern West Bank.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
It sits south of Jerusalem and is part of the Hebron Governorate. This governorate is the largest in the West Bank. The city itself has 201,063 people living within its limits. However, the wider metropolitan area is much larger. It is home to over 700,000 people. Hebron is the third largest city in the country, following Gaza and East Jerusalem.

This city is one of the oldest places where people have lived continuously. It is a holy site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A very important site is the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Biblical stories say Abraham settled here and bought the cave. It was a burial place for his wife, Sarah. Tradition says Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are also buried there. Many others, like Rebecca and Leah, are also linked to this site. The wall around the cave was built by Herod the Great.
Hebron136.JPG
Hebron136.JPG

History has seen many different groups rule this land. After the Babylonian captivity, the Edomites lived in Hebron. Later, Muslim dynasties ruled from the 7th century until the Ottoman Empire ended after World War I. After that, the city became part of British Mandatory Palestine. The year 1929 saw a massacre of nearly 70 Jews. Later, an uprising between 1936 and 1939 led the British to move the Jewish community.

Jewish ghetto in hebron, 1921.jpg
Jewish ghetto in hebron, 1921.jpg
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War led to Jordan occupying the area. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has controlled the city.

Today, the city is divided into two different sectors. This happened because of the 1997 Hebron Protocol. Most of the city is in H1 Hebron, which the Palestinian National Authority governs. The other part is H2 Hebron, which is under Israeli occupation.

2018 OCHA OpT map Hebron.jpg
2018 OCHA OpT map Hebron.jpg
Security and travel permits are managed by both sides through an office called COGAT. Jewish settlers in the city have their own local governing body. This group is called the Committee of the Jewish Community of Hebron. This division makes the city a small version of the larger conflict in the region.

Hebron is a very busy place for business and industry. It produces about one third of the region's GDP. Much of this wealth comes from selling limestone from local quarries.

Hebron216.JPG
Hebron216.JPG
The city is also famous for many handmade goods. You can find beautiful Hebron glass, pottery, and ceramics.
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
People also work with metal, plastics, and even weaving. The Old City has narrow streets and old markets called bazaars.
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
The city is also a place where people go for school and medical care.

463 words

Hebron is a major city in the southern West Bank, Palestine.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
It serves as the capital of the Hebron Governorate. This governorate is the largest in the West Bank. Located south of Jerusalem, Hebron is a vital urban center. The city has a population of 201,063 people within its limits. The wider metropolitan area holds over 700,000 residents. It is the third largest city in the country. Only Gaza and East Jerusalem are larger.

The city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the Levant. It holds deep religious significance for three major faiths. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Hebron as a holy city. A central site is the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Biblical tradition says Abraham settled in Hebron. He purchased the cave as a burial place for his wife, Sarah. It is believed that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are buried there. Their wives, Rebecca and Leah, are also linked to the site. Herod the Great built the wall that still surrounds the cave.
Hebron136.JPG
Hebron136.JPG

Archaeological evidence shows Hebron has ancient roots. Excavations at Tel Rumeida reveal strong fortifications from the Early Bronze Age.

Hebron136.JPG
Hebron136.JPG
The city was once a Canaanite royal center. It flourished during the 17th to 18th centuries BCE. Later, the Edomites settled in the area following the Babylonian captivity. During the first century BCE, the region saw significant changes. The city has passed through many hands over thousands of years. It has been part of the Byzantine Empire and various Muslim dynasties.

Political control of Hebron has shifted many times. Muslim dynasties ruled from the 7th century CE until the Ottoman Empire ended. After World War I, the city became part of British Mandatory Palestine. Violent events occurred in 1929 and during the 1936–39 Arab uprising. These events led the British to evacuate the Jewish community. Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Jordan occupied and annexed the West Bank. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has controlled the city. This history has shaped the modern political landscape of the region.

Today, Hebron is divided into two distinct administrative sectors. This division resulted from the 1997 Hebron Protocol. Most of the city is known as H1 Hebron. The Palestinian National Authority governs this sector. The other part is H2 Hebron, which is under Israeli occupation.

2018 OCHA OpT map Hebron.jpg
2018 OCHA OpT map Hebron.jpg
This structure makes the city a microcosm of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Security and travel permits are coordinated by COGAT. This agency works between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Jewish settlers in the city have their own governing body. They are called the Committee of the Jewish Community of Hebron.

Hebron is a massive commercial and industrial hub. It generates roughly one third of the region's GDP. A major part of this wealth comes from limestone quarries.

Hebron216.JPG
Hebron216.JPG
The city is also famous for its diverse manufacturing. It is known for grapes, figs, and ceramics.
Grapes in Hebron.jpg
Grapes in Hebron.jpg
Skilled workers produce Hebron glass and pottery.
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Other industries include plastics, metalworking, and glassblowing. The city functions as a regional center for education and medicine.

The Old City offers a look into Hebron's traditional life. It features narrow, winding streets and stone houses with flat roofs. Visitors can find old bazaars, which are traditional marketplaces.

Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
Hebron Old city-souq.jpg
The city's historical importance has earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. From its ancient Canaanite roots to its modern industrial role, Hebron remains a complex and busy place. Its unique position on trade routes has influenced its development for millennia.

611 words
🖼️ Images & Media (28)
File:Hebron136.JPG
Hebron136.JPG
File:Samson Fenster aus Alpirsbach.jpg
Samson Fenster aus Alpirsbach.jpg
File:Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007.jpg
File:The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466.jpg
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph...
File:Frith, Francis (1822-1898) - Views in the Holy Land - n. 428 - Hebron. Northern Half of the City - recto.jpg
Frith, Francis (1822-1898) - Views in the...
File:Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams.jpg
File:Jewish ghetto in hebron, 1921.jpg
Jewish ghetto in hebron, 1921.jpg
File:British loyalty meeting in Hebron, 3 July 1940.jpg
British loyalty meeting in Hebron, 3 July 1940.jpg
File:Hebron- 1960's.jpg
Hebron- 1960's.jpg
File:Dan Hadani collection (990044355400205171).jpg
Dan Hadani collection (990044355400205171).jpg
File:Hebron105.JPG
Hebron105.JPG
File:Israeli soldiers on Palestine street.jpg
Israeli soldiers on Palestine street.jpg

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