MK Succot advances landmark bill to apply Israeli sovereignty to the Cave of the Patriarchs, restoring unrestricted Jewish access and administration.
In a landmark move with deep historic and spiritual resonance, MK Tzvi Succot (Religious Zionism) has introduced a groundbreaking bill — signed by dozens of coalition lawmakers — to finally apply full Israeli sovereignty to the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me’arat Hamachpela) in Hebron, Judaism’s second-holiest site.
The proposed legislation would officially transfer the entire compound, including the Hall of Isaac — currently open to Jewish worshippers only ten days a year — into the jurisdiction of the Kiryat Arba Council. The site would be overseen by the local religious council, ending decades of administrative fragmentation and restrictions imposed on Jews since foreign rule.
To ensure proper preservation and accessibility, the bill establishes a dedicated management authority tasked with renovation, modernization, and ongoing maintenance. Funding would flow directly from the Finance Ministry to the local council, ensuring rapid implementation and avoiding bureaucratic delays.
The bill’s explanatory notes make its purpose unmistakably clear: to lift historically unjust limitations on Jewish prayer and return the site to its rightful status as a fully open, accessible, nationally recognized center of Jewish worship. The Minister of Defense would be charged with executing the law and issuing the necessary regulations, under the oversight of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee.
Me’arat Hamachpela holds unparalleled significance in Jewish history. It is the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs — Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah — and, according to tradition, Adam and Eve. Herod’s ancient structure above the cave has stood for nearly 2,000 years. For centuries, Jews were barred from entering, permitted only to ascend the “seven steps” outside.
Since the Six Day War, Jewish worshippers have returned, yet the site remains entangled in partial control and security constraints. Succot’s bill aims to correct this long-standing anomaly by enshrining full Israeli sovereignty over one of Judaism’s most sacred sites.
