Key facts
- Israel canceled the 1997 Hebron Protocol.
- Planning and construction powers at a Hebron shrine are transferred to Israeli control.
- Palestinian authorities previously held these powers at the shrine.
- The Palestinian Presidency condemned the move as a violation of international law.
- One of two Israeli banks serving Palestinians will end its financial services.
- This will impact Palestinian access to banking.
- Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon compared settler ideology to Nazism.
- Ya'alon criticized the government for lack of accountability for Israeli actions against Palestinians.
- Ya'alon called the situation a 'disgrace for generations.'
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the cancellation of the 1997 Hebron Protocol, a move that transfers planning and construction powers at a shrine in the occupied West Bank from Palestinian authorities to Israeli control. The shrine is revered by both Jews and Muslims. The Palestinian Presidency condemned the decision, labeling it a violation of international law. This action escalates tensions in the region and alters the established framework for managing the holy site.
In parallel developments impacting the Palestinian population, one of the two Israeli banks that provide financial services to Palestinians intends to terminate its relationship. This decision will affect the access Palestinians have to banking services. The implications for the Palestinian economy and daily financial transactions are significant.