The Civil Administration, the Israeli governing body that operates in the Occupied West Bank, is seeking to transfer authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque to the religious council of the nearby Kiryat Arba settlement, as first reported by the newspaper Israel Hayom. Such a transfer of authority is considered illegal under international law. One of the oldest prayer sites in the world, the original structure dates back about 2,000 years to the Roman era. A Christian basilica was constructed on the site during the Byzantine period. It was converted into a mosque in 7th century CE, integrating Islamic architectural features such as minarets. In the 12th century, the Crusaders captured the site and transformed it into a Christian church once more. It was reverted to a mosque in 1187 when Saladin reclaimed the city of Hebron, but has been under Israeli military control since 1967, when Israel occupied the West Bank. Now, Palestinian officials are reportedly urging UNESCO and the internation...