Cave of Patriarchs Sees First Renovation in 2,000 Years Under Israeli Authority

Large-scale conservation has begun at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the first major work on the roughly 2,000-year-old Herodian complex above the burial site of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Settlement Minister Orit Strock, Hebron Municipal Leader Eyal Gelman, and Kiryat Arba Local Council head Israel Bramson attended the launch after planning authority for the compound was transferred from the Palestinian Authority to an Israeli body earlier this year. The project adds new electrical, air conditioning, drainage, lighting, and fire protection systems, plus a long-awaited glass-and-metal roof over the flood-prone Jewish prayer area. Smotrich said the work reflects the deep significance of Jewish roots in Hebron; Strock called it a historic milestone of ownership and responsibility for Judaism's second-holiest site.