A screenshot of the Cave of the Patriarchs taken from a personal video posted on X by a visitor from the UK to Israel
The Cave of the Patriarchs as seen in a snippet from a tourist video

End of the Waqf Era: Israel Takes Back the Tomb of the Patriarchs

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Israel Reclaims Authority Over Cave of the Patriarchs: Ending Decades of Waqf Obstruction and Restoring Jewish Sovereignty.
 

Jerusalem has launched a bold new era in Hebron, reclaiming administrative control over the Cave of the Patriarchs—Judaism’s second-holiest site—after years of Palestinian sabotage, legal delays, and bureaucratic obstruction.

In a historic shift, the Israeli government has officially begun transferring authority over the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat HaMachpela) from the Palestinian-controlled Islamic Waqf to the Kiryat Arba-Hebron Religious Council. The decision follows repeated refusals by Palestinian Authority officials and Islamic clerics to cooperate on long-stalled renovation projects aimed at improving infrastructure and safety for Jewish worshippers.

According to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the directive comes straight from the top. “Planning procedures for roofing the courtyard of the Tomb of the Patriarchs are underway, for the benefit of all worshippers,” the statement read, emphasizing that the status quo would remain unchanged. But the subtext is clear: Israel is tired of asking for permission to maintain its own heritage.

A Sacred Site Under Siege

The Cave of the Patriarchs—where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah are buried—is a cornerstone of Jewish identity. Purchased by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite more than 3,000 years ago, it is one of the oldest Jewish holy sites in continuous use. Yet since the 1967 liberation of Hebron, Israel has refrained from asserting full sovereignty, instead handing over daily management to the Islamic Waqf in a controversial move by then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan.

That decision, critics say, has allowed decades of religious discrimination, anti-Jewish incitement, and denial of access to fester under a façade of coexistence. Even routine maintenance, such as installing a fire safety system or building a roof over the Jacob’s Courtyard—where Jews pray—has been delayed or blocked outright by Palestinian officials and their international backers.

The involvement of the Waqf, and later the Palestinian Authority, has not only stifled religious freedom but also undermined Israeli security. Shockingly, reports have revealed that even access to surveillance camera footage required permission from these hostile authorities.

Sovereignty Restored

Shai Glick, director of the Jewish human rights organization B’Tsalmo, applauded the move, declaring it a long-overdue correction of a moral failure. “This site is recorded in the Book of Genesis as the burial ground of the Jewish patriarchs. For too long, Israel relinquished control to the Waqf. It’s time to return dignity and sovereignty to this sacred space.”

Glick also stressed the importance of further upgrades, including proper shelter from the elements, air conditioning, and accessible restrooms. “After decades of marginalization, Jewish visitors deserve more than a political compromise—they deserve comfort, respect, and security.”

That sentiment echoes the triumphant installation of a $1.6 million accessibility project—an elevator, sloped pathway, and covered footbridge—that opened just last year. The project, long entangled in legal battles and Palestinian lawsuits, finally overcame its last hurdle in 2021 when Israel’s High Court rejected claims that it harmed the site’s historical value.

Palestinian authorities, unsurprisingly, remain furious. In a February statement, the PA’s Ministry of Religious Affairs lashed out, falsely accusing Israel of “turning the mosque into a synagogue” and insisting that the Cave of the Patriarchs is an “exclusive Islamic endowment.” The irony of this claim is glaring: the Waqf was placed in charge of a Jewish holy site after it built a mosque atop it—centuries after Jewish tradition had already sanctified the space.

A Turning Point in Hebron

What began as a technical renovation has now become a powerful symbol of renewed Jewish sovereignty in Hebron. By reclaiming authority over the Cave of the Patriarchs, Israel is not merely reinforcing its administrative responsibilities—it is redrawing the red lines of national dignity and historical justice.

For decades, the Jewish people have tolerated second-class status at one of their holiest sites, in the name of appeasement. That era is ending. The restoration of Jewish control over the Tomb of the Patriarchs sends a clear message: our history is not negotiable, our heritage is not for sale, and our presence is not temporary.

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