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Hebron

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Hebron is a large city in the southern West Bank.

The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466
The town of Hebron. Coloured lithograph by Louis Haghe after Wellcome V0049466

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.

Hebron- 1960's
Hebron- 1960's

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
Cave of the Patriarchs, Hebron 2007

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
Hebron136

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
Jewish ghetto in hebron, 1921

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
2018 OCHA OpT map Hebron

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
Hebron216

The city is also famous for many handmade goods. You can find beautiful Hebron glass, pottery, and ceramics.

Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams
Hebron glass finished products - Joff Williams

People also work with metal, plastics, and even weaving. The Old City has narrow streets and old markets called bazaars.

Hebron Old city-souq
Hebron Old city-souq

The city is also a place where people go for school and medical care.

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🖼️ 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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