Israel began illegal settlement construction works atop the historic Hebron municipality building in the southern West Bank, municipal authorities said Thursday, Anadolu reports.
In a statement, the Hebron Municipality said Israeli authorities began to build on the roof of its old headquarters in the Ein Al-Askar area in the Old City.
It said the works aim to “impose a new status quo in violation of local and international laws,” describing the construction as part of “the ongoing settlement expansion policy targeting the city of Hebron, its holy sites and historic buildings.”
The municipality said the old municipal building has been closed for years under an Israeli military order and is considered one of the major historical and national landmarks in the Old City, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“Any alteration or assault on the building constitutes a clear violation of all international conventions and norms related to the protection of cultural and human heritage,” it warned.
The municipality called on local and international institutions, as well as rights and humanitarian organizations, to intervene immediately “to stop this assault and prevent attempts to impose a new reality targeting the historical and cultural identity of the Old City.”
It vowed to pursue the issue through all local and international legal channels to halt the violations and hold those responsible accountable.
Under the Hebron Protocol signed on Jan. 17, 1997, Hebron was divided into the H1 and H2 zones, with Israel retaining full control over the Old City and its surroundings, including the Ibrahimi Mosque area in H2.
In 2017, Palestine succeeded in registering Hebron’s Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
