Saturday afternoon in Hebron: Two faces of Israeli occupation in a shared holy site

On a Saturday afternoon in Hebron, two contrasting realities unfolded within the Ibrahimi Mosque compound, a site of deep significance for both Muslims and Jews. Palestinian women, waiting patiently for clearance through checkpoints and security searches, exemplified the hardships faced by adult males attempting to enter the city.

For Palestinians, reaching the mosque meant navigating barriers and distinct paths, while for Israelis, access was far more straightforward. The Ibrahimi Mosque, home to the tombs of several prophets revered by Muslims and Jews, including Abraham and his wife Sarah, is a shared holy site, embodying the complexities of Israel's occupation in the West Bank city.

Despite the delicate schedule allowing Muslims exclusive access to the mosque for 10 days a year, tensions persist due to the presence of Jewish worshippers, who also have 10 days annually to pray in the adjacent section. The mosque's sharing arrangement, broadly comparable to security measures at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, has been tightened by Israel, with control over construction and planning seized last June by the country.

Palestinian and Turkish visitors, however, found jubilation within the mosque's walls, with women celebrating their Quranic achievements and a Turkish group learning about the site's history from a Palestinian guide. Israeli soldiers occasionally conducted security raids, and Al Jaabari, a city council member, vehemently denied the legitimacy of the shared access agreement, claiming it was imposed unilaterally by an Israeli commission.