The settlement of Jewish mothers in Hebron, 1979

Beit Hadassah in Hebron served as a hospital operated by the ancient Jewish community of Hebron until it was destroyed in the riots of 1929. After the Six-Day War, Hebron came under Israeli control, In 1968, a group of Israelis organized in the aim of re-establishing the Jewish settlement in the city. After three years the government established the settlement of Kiryat Arba near Hebron. In 1979, in protest of the government’s failure to develop Jewish construction in Kiryat Arba, ten women invaded the abandoned Beit Hadassah building along with their children. This dramatic measure ultimately led to the beginning of Jewish settlement in Hebron. The government opposed this settlement but did not want to forcibly evict women and children. Instead, it tried to achieve their voluntary departure. Joining them and bringing in equipment of any kind was prohibited. The women and their children lived at Beit Hadassah with rudimentary furniture and without electricity or running water. After six months, their spouses were able to join them, as the authorities turned a blind eye. One year later, following Palestinian terrorist attacks in Hebron, the government of Prime Minister Menachem Begin approved Jewish presence there.