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Hebron

Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa | 2004 | | Copyright

HEBRON

West Bank city, south of Jerusalem.

Hebron (in Arabic, al-Khalil; in Hebrew, Hevron ) is an ancient city, holy to both Judaism and Islam, because it is the site of the Machpelah burial cave of the Biblical and Qurʾanic figures Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their respective wives Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah. Later, in the tenth century b.c.e., David was proclaimed king in Hebron when Saul died, and it became his first capital. Above the Machpelah cave is a mosque complex known as the al-Haram al-Ibrahimi.

Although predominantly a town inhabited by Palestinian Arab Muslims, a small Jewish community lived in Hebron throughout the centuries. During British rule, the Jews left after the Arab-Jewish disturbances of August 1929 when sixty-four Jews were massacred. Hebron was annexed by Jordan in 1950 in the aftermath of the Arab-Israel War of 1948, and it was occupied by Israel during the Arab–Israel War of 1967. As a result, Jews were allowed to pray in the al-Haram, something formerly forbidden to them. A civilian Jewish settlement called Kiryat Arba was established nearby in 1968, and militant nationalist settlers also began moving into the heart of Hebron itself. Formation of the Gush Emunim movement furthered this development. Long a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence, Hebron's worst violence in decades occurred in February 1994 when Baruch Goldstein, a U.S.-born Jewish settler, entered the al-Haram al-Ibrahimi mosque and massacred twenty-nine Palestinian wor-shippers before he himself was killed.

Because of the presence of approximately 400 Jewish settlers in Hebron, it was the only major West Bank town (besides Jerusalem) from which Israeli forces did not withdraw in 1994 as a result of the Oslo Accord. The troops later withdrew from 80 percent of Hebron in January 1997 in accordance with the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron, leaving the 120,000 Palestinian residents under Palestinian rule. Yet, Israel retained control of the remaining 20 percent of the city, which included the downtown Palestinian market and the alHaram al-Ibrahimi, to protect the remaining Jewish settlers.

See also arab–israel war (1948); arab–israel war (1967); gush emunim; kiryat arba; oslo accord (1993).

benjamin joseph
updated by michael r. fischbach

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Joseph, Benjamin. "Hebron." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Joseph, Benjamin. "Hebron." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3424601236.html

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Hebron

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Hebron city (2003 est. pop. 155,000), the West Bank, called Al-Khalil in modern Arabic. Hebron is situated at an altitude of 3,000 ft (910 m) in a region where grapes, cereal grains, and vegetables are grown. Tanning, food processing, glassblowing, and the manufacture of sheepskin coats are the major industries. The city is also a road junction. Hebron has usually had a significant Jewish population, although following Arab riots in 1929 most Jews left and did not return until after the Israeli occupation following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, when numerous Jewish settlements were established outside Hebron. One of Judaism's four holy cities, Hebron is also a sacred place for Muslims.

The site of ancient Hebron, which antedates the biblical record, has not been precisely determined. The Bible first mentions Hebron in connection with Abraham. The cave of Machpelah (also called the Cave of the Patriarchs; now enclosed by the Mosque of Ibrahim) is the traditional burial place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. David ruled the Hebrews from Hebron for seven years before moving his capital to Jerusalem, and Absalom began his revolt in Hebron.

The city figured in many wars in Palestine. It was taken (2d cent. BC) by Judas Maccabeus (see Maccabees ) and temporarily destroyed by the Romans. In 636 it was conquered by the Arabs and made an important place of pilgrimage, later to be seized (1099) by the Crusaders and renamed St. Abraham, and retaken (1187) by Saladin . It later became (16th cent.) part of the Ottoman Empire.

In the 20th cent., Hebron was incorporated (1922-48) in the League of Nations Palestine mandate, and in 1948 it was absorbed by Jordan. As one of the major towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank , the city became a focus of Jewish-Arab tensions. The emergence of the Intifada in the 1980s was accompanied by an escalation of violence, and in 1994 the Mosque of Ibrahim was the site of the murder of Muslim worshipers by an extremist Israeli settler. Under the agreement establishing Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank, the Israeli occupation of Hebron was scheduled to end by Mar., 1996. After setbacks and delays, most of the town of Hebron was handed over to Palestinian control in Jan., 1997.

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Hebron

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Hebron (Arabic: Khalīl ar‐Rahmān; Hebrew: Hevron), West Bank Qiryat Arba′ A very ancient and holy city, the Arabic name means ‘Beloved, or Friend, of (God) the Merciful’ from Khalīl ‘Friend’, a reference to Abraham who, according to tradition, is buried here. The Hebrew name comes from khavor ‘to unite’ or khavoor ‘group’; it is one of the four holy cities of Judaism. The Hebrew Qiryat Arba′ means the ‘City of the Four’, possibly a reference to four united settlements in biblical times or the fact that Hebron is built on four hills. It was the capital of Israel for some years during the time of King David (10th century bc). Annexed by Jordan in 1950, it fell to Israeli troops during the Six‐Day War in June 1967. In January 1997 it was the last of seven major West Bank towns to be handed over to Palestinian rule in accordance with the 1993 Oslo peace process. Although a Palestinian city, a small part of it is under Israeli control.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Hebron." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Hebron." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Hebron.html

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Hebron

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Hebron (El Khalil) City in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. An ancient city, it came under Arab control in the 7th century ad, and was occupied by the Crusaders (12th–13th centuries) before reverting to Arab rule. It later became part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1948, Jordan annexed Hebron but Israel occupied it during the Six-Day War (1967). It witnessed much Israeli-Arab tension, especially during the Intifada. The Israeli-Palestinian Accord granted Palestinian self-rule to 85% of Hebron. It is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The Tomb of the Patriarchs (the Cave of Machpelah) is the traditional burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah. Industries: tanning, glass making. Pop. (1997) 119,200.

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Hebron

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

Hebron A town SW of Jerusalem in a mountainous area, captured by Caleb (Josh. 14: 12 ff.) and the scene of David's accession to the throne (2 Sam. 2: 4), and where he reigned for seven and a half years (2 Sam. 5: 5) until he took Jerusalem. David's son Absalom established a rebel stronghold in Hebron (2 Sam. 15: 7 ff.)

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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hebron." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hebron." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Hebron.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hebron." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Hebron.html

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Hebron

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Hebron a Palestinian city on the West Bank of the Jordan. It is one of the most ancient cities in the Middle East, probably founded in the 18th century bc, and as the home of Abraham it is a holy city of both Judaism and Islam.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hebron." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hebron." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Hebron.html

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Hebron

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | Copyright

Hebron, one of the oldest cities in the world. It was chosen by Abraham as his nomadic home when he arrived in Palestine (Gen. 13: 18) and is the scene of various events recorded in the OT.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Hebron." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Hebron." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Hebron.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Hebron." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Hebron.html

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Hebron

A Dictionary of British Place-Names | 2003 | | Copyright

Hebron Northum. Heburn 1242. Probably identical in origin with Hebburn.

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A. D. MILLS. "Hebron." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

A. D. MILLS. "Hebron." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Hebron.html

A. D. MILLS. "Hebron." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Hebron.html

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Hebron

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"Hebron." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Hebron." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Hebron.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Hebron - living with the deal. (Palestine) Magazine article from: The Middle East; 3/1/1997
	Hebron's Jews defiant in face of imminent Israeli pullout.(World) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 11/4/1996
	Hebron: a West Bank magnet for trouble. (World). Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 10/18/2002