Hevron has been declared a closed military zone, upon order of IDF Central District Commander Major General Yair Naveh.

According to the military order, non-residents must request special permission from the Judea regional brigade to enter Hevron until January 22nd.

Non-residents of the Jewish section of the city will not be allowed in by the IDF.

This act is immoral as it forbids Jews from entering the City of the Patriarchs and Ma'arat HaMachpela (the tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah). Hevron is Judaism's second-holiest city and the Israeli Government should not restrict Jewish access.

The establishment of Israel and the return of the Jewish People to their homeland has been a two thousand year old dream. Hevron, which was liberated after Israel was viciously attacked in 1967, has been open to all Jews at all time after being closed by the Mameluks and Jordanians for so many centuries.

We call upon the Israeli Government and IDF to lift this ban immediately and once again allow Jews access to the holy city without restriction.