According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are 12 permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.

Checkpoints observed in H2: the prayer route (between Qiryat Arba and Mearat HaMachpela – “Tomb of the Patriarchs”), entry in Avraham Avinu Quarter, also provides protection against settlers for the Palestinian Sharabati family, whom the High Court returned to the Quarter, Kikar Gross, Hashoter, Tel Rumeida, and Beit Hamerqahat (“Pharmacy” Checkpoint).