Israel pushes forward with new school plans in Hebron

Israel has just approved building a new school for Jewish settlers right in the middle of Hebron, a Palestinian city in the West Bank. This move comes just one day after the same official scrapped a deal that gave Palestinians some control over construction in the city’s historic center. The Cave of the Patriarchs, a holy site for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, sits in this area where over 1, 000 Jewish settlers live among tens of thousands of Palestinians. Back in 1997, an agreement was made to keep Israeli troops in the area but also let Palestinian authorities approve building plans around the shrine. Now, that system is changing. The new school will be 1, 000 square meters big, built right where Palestinian control once mattered. The official behind this decision, Bezalal Smotrich, has made it clear he opposes a Palestinian state and sees these construction projects as a way to strengthen Israel’s grip on the land.But Palestinians aren’t staying silent. Activists like Issa Amro warn that these changes could make life harder for Palestinians living there. They fear losing basic services and being pushed out of their homes. Amro calls it ethnic cleansing by forcing families to leave. He also says this is another step in taking away Palestinian rights to peace, stability, and a future of their own. The city’s history makes it a battleground. The shrine at the center brings different faiths together, but today it’s also a symbol of conflict. As Israel moves forward with these plans, the question remains: who really controls this land, and who gets to shape its future?