Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Knesset Members from the National Union (NU) faction that he will not allow them to tour the PA-controlled part of Hevron referred to as H1, thus reversing an earlier decision to grant them permission to do so.
The MKs will only be allowed to tour the area near the Tomb of Patriarchs.
Defense officials said that the decision reflects "a proper balance between the need to allow… elected leaders to tour different areas, as well as the need to maintain public order and avoid unnecessary confrontations that endanger public safety."
The NU MKs were supposed to enter PA-controlled Hevron from "Policeman's Square," advance 150 meters and return to the Israeli-controlled area.
NU Chairman Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) said in response: "We regret the Defense Minister's unbecoming conduct and his claim that he did not give the faction members permission to visit biblical Hevron, which is known as H1. We have a formal letter of permission in our hands and Barak can still go back to this original letter. In any case, we shall be in Hevron tomorrow."
The NU members intend to march to protest the Netanyahu government's decision to ease Palestinian movement – including the reopening of the Zion Route in Hevron to Arabs – while discriminating against Jews.