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HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Dozens of Israeli settlers took over a house in the center of the West Bank city of Hebron overnight Wednesday.

Witnesses said the group started moving their furniture in after breaking down the gates and celebrated by distributing sweets.

The settlers claim to have bought the home from its owner.

Local sources told Ma'an that the house, close to the Ibrahimi mosque, belongs to Abu Rajab and that his grandson -- who has the same name -- sold it to the settlers. Others disputed this and said the owner's grandson had sold it to another Palestinian, who sold it on to the settlers.

Hebron Rehabilitation Committee director Imad Hamdan told Ma'an the move was a violation against the people of Hebron.

"The settlers claim that they have bought the house. If this is so, why would they destroy its gates and enter it forcefully after midnight? They must go to Israeli courts to prove their claim," Hamdan said.

Hebron Mayor Kamel Hmaid warned the incident would inflame tensions in the city.

"What's happening is a provocation of the people of the old city of Hebron."

Around 800 Jewish settlers live in Hebron's Old City, among 30,000 Palestinians in the parts of the city that are under Israeli control.

The settlers, many of whom are armed, are guarded by Israeli soldiers stationed in the city who impose strict restrictions on Palestinians' movement.

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Jewish Settlers Takeover Building in Hebron

HEBRON, March 29, 2012 (WAFA) – A group of Jewish settlers Thursday broke into an abandoned building located less than a kilometer away from the Ibrahimi mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and took it over claiming they have documents proving ownership of the building, according to local residents.

They told WAFA that settlers broke into the three story building owned by Taleb Abu Rajab in the early hours.

Israeli army and police surrounded the building and prevented its owners who gathered in front of it from entering it claiming they were waiting for proof of ownership from the settlers and the owners before they decide on the next move.

Settlers normally use forged documents obtained from land dealers to prove ownership of Palestinian property.

T.R./M.S.

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Settlers take up residence in Hebron house

Several dozen settlers move into property located near Cave of Patriarchs; say they have legal ownership. Palestinian owner detained by PA police

by Itamar Fleishman for Ynet

Several dozen settlers have taken up residence in a Hebron house overnight, claiming they purchased it from its Palestinian owner.

Sources in Hebron said that the owner of the house, which is located near the Cave of the Patriarchs, was detained for questioning by the Palestinian police.

As soon as news of the move reached the defense establishment, large IDF forces arrived as the scene to maintain the order. No unusual events were noted on the premises overnight.

The IDF declared the immediate premises a restricted military zone. Military sources told Ynet that the land in question has been at the center of an ownership dispute.


The IDF said that the move constitutes "an irresponsible move and a dangerous provocation that may inflame spirits, especially ahead of Lad day."

Settlers have been buying up land and property in Hebron for several years now, with many of the purchases contested in court.

Sources familiar with Wednesday night's event told Ynet that the "operation was carried out in military fashion," adding that no one but the new tenants knew about the plan.

The settlers claim that they have all the legal documents attesting to the purchase of what has been dubbed the "Machpelah House."

Senior officers with the Judea and Samaria Spatial Brigade are currently looking into the purchase's legality.

Shlomo Levinger, one of the new owners, told Ynet: "This is very exciting. It's taken us years but we have finally been able to buy a house near the Cave of the Patriarchs.

"The police have decided not to allow anyone in until a decision on the property is made by higher-ranking officers," he added. "We were told that anyone who wants to leave may do so, but no one can go it. Naturally, we're not going anywhere."

MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) commented on the event, saying: "It's time to reclaim all of the homes taken by the enemies in the City of the Fathers.

"The rule of law must allow for the most basic thing – to let Jews return to the dozens of Hebron homes that belong to the Jewish community."

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April 4, 2012

IDF gives settlers 24 hours to evacuate Hebron house

According to eviction order, settlers have until Tuesday afternoon to evacuate the house on their own will.

By Chaim Levinson

The IDF has issued an eviction order for settlers who took over a house in the Arab part of Hebron last week.

According to the order, the settlers have until Tuesday at 3:00 PM to evacuate the house on their own will, after which "the authorities will act to restore the building to its previous state."

The security establishment has called the takeover a provocation, and says that the settlers' presence in the house constitutes a public disturbance. However, the move has won the support of some politicians.

The settlers said they purchased the property legally. Their representatives showed records of the deal on Sunday, including money transfers, to Military Advocate General staff.

The house is located in a closed military zone, but Jewish community activists come and go freely through the area.
A key figure in the land purchase is Assaf Nehmad, a former Shin Bet security service man, who speaks Arabic and helps settlers purchase land from Arab owners who may be unwilling to sell to someone they know is Jewish.

Nehmad owns 99 percent of the company that purchased the house, Al-Aydun al-Akarat, which he founded in 2010 when the settlers first started trying to buy the house.

According to material presented Sunday to the Military Advocate General's staff, the house was registered to two Palestinians, one of whom bequeathed ti to a Palestinian man by the name of Hosni al-Tamimi. Tamimi sold it to a front man for the settlers, Mohammed Abu-Shahala, who sold it to Al-Aydun.

Sources in Hebron said that Abu-Shahala, who is originally from Gaza, was an officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces, which is how he got to the West Bank.
He made a number of property deals over the past few years and is now detained in a PA investigation facility.
The exact price paid for the house is unknown, but is believed to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.