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Cave of the Patriarchs to Be Closed to Jews This Shabbat Due to 'Special Muslim Day'
Cave of the Patriarchs Closed to Jews this Shabbat (Jan 17) due to a "special Muslim day." See the full prayer schedule, reopening times, and details on the proposed sovereignty bill.
The administration of the Cave of the Patriarchs announced on Thursday that the site in Hebron will be closed to Jewish visitors on the upcoming Shabbat, Parashat Va'era (28 Tevet, January 17, 2026), citing a "special Muslim day."
According to the update, the site will remain open on Friday and Friday evening, with evening Shabbat prayers proceeding in the usual format. Shabbat day prayers will be held in the Seventh Step area.The Cave of the Patriarchs is scheduled to reopen to the Jewish public on Sunday starting at 4:00 AM.
This closure comes amid ongoing discussions about access to the holy site. Two months ago, MK Tzvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism) introduced a historic bill, signed by dozens of coalition MKs, calling for the application of Israeli sovereignty over the entire Cave of the Patriarchs complex in Hebron. MK Meir Porush is also among the signatories.The bill proposes that the full site, including the Isaac Hall (currently open to Jews only 10 days a year), fall under full Israeli sovereignty and be included in the jurisdiction of the Kiryat Arba Council and its religious council.
Additionally, it suggests establishing a dedicated administration to renovate, make accessible, and maintain the site, with funding transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the local council.The explanatory note states that the move aims "to remove the restrictions imposed on Jews since the days of foreign occupation and to restore the site's historical and national status as an open, accessible, and free center of prayer for the Jewish people."
The law seeks to anchor overall responsibility for site maintenance and ensure free access to all parts under the Kiryat Arba Council's authority, with the Minister of Defense overseeing implementation and empowered, with approval from the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, to enact regulations
.Signatories include: MK Tzvi Succot, MK Avichai Boaron, MK Simcha Rothman, MK Michal Waldiger, MK Zvi Fogel, MK Etty Atia, MK Keti Shitrit, MK Meir Porush, MK Osher Shekalim, MK Tali Gotliv, MK Tsega Melaku, MK Avi Maoz, MK Amit Halevi, MK Ariel Kallner, MK Ohad Tal, MK Eliyahu Revivo, MK Eli Dallal, MK Hanoch Milwidsky, MK Moshe Solomon, MK Afif Abed, MK Limor Son Har-Melech, MK Yitzhak Kreuzer, MK Nissim Vaturi, MK Moshe Passal, MK Shashi Gueta, MK Michel Buskila.