Hebron, city in the West Bank, near Jerusalem. Israel has occupied Hebron
since 1967, when it captured the West Bank and other territories in the
Six-Day War. Hebron is one of oldest communities in the world. Among the
interesting features of Hebron are the narrow, winding streets , the
flat-roofed stone houses , the bazaars , and the mosque of al-Haram
al-Ebrahimi. The mosque is built on top of the cave that is believed to
hold the tombs of Abraham and his family. In the top of this cave is
al-Ebrahimi mosque.
Hebron's population is Arab Muslim, although Israelis have settled in the
city since 1967 . A large Israeli settlement called Qiryat Arba lies on the
outskirts of Hebron . Hebron has a number of small scale industrial
establishments that produce cotton goods , leather , water containers,
glass bracelets, rings, lamps, and ceramics.
British troops occupied Hebron in December 1917, during World War I. Hebron
was part of the British mandate for Palestine from 1923 until 1948 . In
1949 Jordan controled Hebron and the rest of West Bank . In June 1967 ,
following the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab countries, Israeli troops
took control of the West Bank.
In February 1994 an Israeli settler massacred at least 29 Palestinians in
al-Haram al-Ebrahimi mosque.
Population (estimated) 75,000.