US-Backed Israeli Settlement Plan Threatens Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque
West Bank (Quds News Network)- Israeli media revealed a new settlement plan targeting the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, West Bank. Backed by Israeli ministers and Knesset members, the plan seeks to alter the mosque’s status. It coincides with the ongoing Gaza genocide and global focus on US election results.
The Hebrew site Zman Israel reported the plan aims to transform the mosque into a settler national heritage site. This would involve confiscating the site and reshaping it like the Buraq Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. The initiative has support from prominent US figures, including officials linked to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Settler Leaders Push for Change in the Ibrahimi Mosque
The head of the Kiryat Arba settlement council near Hebron said ministers in Netanyahu’s government promised major changes for settlers. These include allowing expanded rituals time inside the mosque for settlers.
He criticized existing arrangements imposed after the 1994 massacre at the site, which divided the mosque between Muslims and settlers. “How can Arabs pray inside while we stand outside under the open sky?” he asked.
Political Support and Celebration
Thousands of settlers gathered inside the mosque last Saturday for celebrations attended by Israeli ministers. Far-right figures like Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Orit Strock were present. Discussions during the event focused on altering the mosque’s current status.
Likud Knesset member Avihai Boaron called Trump’s election a “golden opportunity” to seize the mosque from Islamic authorities. He advocated turning the site into a modern prayer facility to address “overcrowding issues.”
Another Knesset member, Tzvi Sukkot, said settlers currently use 35% of the mosque’s space for prayers. He described this as unacceptable and vowed to expand their access to the entire Muslim site throughout the day.
The plan, backed by Finance Minister Smotrich, aligns with a broader push for annexing the West Bank by 2025. The mosque would serve as a central focus in this initiative.
The report also highlighted the role of Mike Huckabee, a key American supporter of the project. Huckabee, set to become the US ambassador to Israel, supports a biblical vision for full Israeli control over Palestine.
Zman Israel warned that these politically charged moves could ignite severe conflict. The Ibrahimi Mosque is among the most sensitive religious sites in the region. Escalation here could spark widespread unrest with unpredictable consequences.
