the city of Hebron in the West Bank has a Palestinian majority of more than 200,000 citizens and a small Jewish settlement in the city center, variously numbered between 500 and 800.

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One sector of Hebron, home to around 170,000 Palestinians, is governed by the Palestinian Authority. Yet another sector, centered around the Cave of the Patriarchs, which was inhabited by around 30,000 Palestinians is under Israeli military control with an entire brigade in place to protect some 800 Jewish residents living in the old Jewish quarter.

 

Israel has declared that a number of special areas in the Old City of Hebron constitute a closed military zone. Palestinians shops have been forced to close. Palestinian residents, who are subjected every day to repeated body searches, must register to obtain special permits to navigate through the 18 military checkpoints set up in the city center.