West Bank and Gaza Political Geography

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Hebron

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Hebron Arab. Al-Khalil, city (2003 est. pop. 155,000), the West Bank. 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 shoes and 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

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. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hebron." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Hebron.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hebron." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 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. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hebron." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Hebron.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hebron." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: 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. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Hebron." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Hebron.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Hebron." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 28, 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. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

A. D. MILLS. "Hebron." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Hebron.html

A. D. MILLS. "Hebron." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Hebron.html

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Hebron

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

Hebron •Agamemnon, Memnon •ninon, xenon •noumenon • Trianon • xoanon •organon • Simenon • Maintenon •crampon, kampong, tampon •Nippon • coupon •Akron, Dacron, macron •electron • natron • Hebron • positron •Heilbronn • micron •boron, moron, oxymoron •neutron • interferon •fleuron, Huron, neuron •Oberon • mellotron • aileron •cyclotron • Percheron • Mitterrand •vigneron • croissant • Maupassant •garçon • Cartier-Bresson • exon •frisson • Oxon • chanson • Tucson •soupçon • Aubusson • Besançon •penchant • torchon • cabochon •Anton, canton, Danton •lepton •piton, Teton •krypton • feuilleton • magneton •chiton •photon, proton •croûton, futon •eschaton • peloton • contretemps •telethon •talkathon, walkathon •Avon • tableau vivant • vol-au-vent

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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