Israel controls Cave of Patriarchs after Palestinians block renovation plans

(JNS) - Israel recently reassumed administrative control over the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Judean city of Hebron after Palestinian Authority and Islamic officials refused to coordinate on renovations at the holy site, JNS has learned.

Jerusalem decided to start a process to transfer authority from the Islamic trust that has managed the site to the Kiryat Arba-Hebron Religious Council to improve infrastructure for Jewish worshippers, Hebron's international spokesperson confirmed to JNS on Tuesday.

Among the projects that are being advanced by the Israeli government are a plan to build a ne...