Ben Gvir: ‘Apartheid’ against Jews in Hebron settlement, can’t enter 97% of territory

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir claimed in an Instagram live chat yesterday that there is “apartheid” against Jews in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Hebron, as “Jews can’t enter 97% of the territory,” Haaretz reports.

“Arabs can go anywhere, wherever they want and however much they want,” it quotes him as saying.

This is untrue, as Palestinians cannot enter the Jewish settlement within Hebron or the neighboring Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba. The Jewish presence in an enclave in Hebron is under considerable protection by Israeli security forces, and Palestinians are heavily restricted in their access to nearby roads. They are also barred from entering Al-Shuhada Street within Palestinian territory, which leads to the Tomb of the Patriarchs and which was once home to a thriving market, with Israel citing security issues.