Editing Hebron (section)

===Jordanian period===
[[File:Hebron- 1960's.jpg|thumb|Hebron in the 1960s under Jordanian rule]]
At the beginning of the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], Egypt took control of Hebron. Between May and October, Egypt and Jordan tussled for dominance in Hebron and its environs. Both countries appointed military governors in the town, hoping to gain recognition from Hebron officials. The Egyptians managed to persuade the pro-Jordanian mayor to support their rule, at least superficially, but local opinion turned against them when they imposed taxes. Villagers surrounding Hebron resisted and skirmishes broke out in which some were killed.<ref>Benny Morris. [https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1860649890 ''The Road to Jerusalem: Glubb Pasha, Palestine and the Jews'']. 2003. pp. 186–87.</ref> By late 1948, part of the Egyptian forces from Bethlehem to Hebron had been cut off from their lines of supply and [[John Bagot Glubb|Glubb Pasha]] sent 350 [[Arab Legion]]naires and an armored car unit to Hebron to reinforce them there. When the [[1949 Armistice Agreements|Armistice]] was signed, the city thus fell under [[Rule of the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Jordan|Jordanian military control]]. The armistice agreement between Israel with Jordan intended to allow Israeli Jewish pilgrims to visit Hebron, but, as Jews of all nationalities were forbidden by Jordan into the country, this did not occur.<ref>Thomas A Idinopulos, Jerusalem, 1994, p. 300, "So severe were the Jordanian restrictions against Jews gaining access to the old city that visitors wishing to cross over from west Jerusalem...had to produce a baptismal certificate."</ref><ref>Armstrong, Karen, ''Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths'', 1997, "Only clergy, diplomats, UN personnel, and a few privileged tourists were permitted to go from one side to the other. The Jordanians required most tourists to produce baptismal certificates—to prove they were not Jewish ... ."</ref>

In December 1948, the [[Jericho Conference]], held by Jordan, was convened to decide the future of the West Bank. Hebron notables, headed by mayor [[Muhammad Ali Ja'abari|Muhamad 'Ali al-Ja'bari]], voted in favor of becoming part of [[Jordan]] and to recognize [[Abdullah I of Jordan]] as their king. The subsequent unilateral annexation benefited the Arabs of Hebron, who during the 1950s, played a significant role in the economic development of Jordan.<ref>{{harvnb|Robins|2004|pp=71–72}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Michael Dumper|author2=Bruce E. Stanley|title=Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA165|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-919-5|page=165}}</ref>

Although a significant number of people relocated to Jerusalem from Hebron during the Jordanian period,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=J5U3AAAAIAAJ ''The Encyclopaedia of Islam''], Sir H. A. R. Gibb 1980. p. 337.</ref> Hebron itself saw a considerable increase in population with 35,000 settling in the town.<ref name="Efrat 1984 192">{{harvnb|Efrat|1984|p=192}}</ref> During this period, signs of the previous Jewish presence in Hebron were removed.<ref>{{harvnb|Auerbach|2009|p=79}}: "Under Jordanian rule, the last vestiges of a Jewish historical presence in Hebron were obliterated. The Avraham Avinu synagogue, already in ruins, was razed; a pen for goats, sheep, and donkeys was built on the site."</ref>