BICOM

The Israel Defense Forces is demanding the immediate eviction of the settlers who took over a house in the Arab part of Hebron last week. The IDF has called the takeover a provocation, fearing it will raise tensions in the city, which has become a focal point of clashes between settlers and Arab residents.

The settlers said they purchased the property legally. Their representatives Sunday showed records of the deal, including money transfers, to Military Advocate General staff. The police, who are looking into the legality of the West Bank sale, said they found no irregularities or forgeries.

The building, known as Beit Hamachpela, is the latest in a series of buildings that the Israeli residents of the Hebron have attempted to claim. Settlers have been attempting to purchase property in Hebron for several years, although many of the purchases have been contested in court.

At the request of Likud ministers Gideon Sa’ar, Yuli Edelstein and Yisrael Katz, Benjamin Netanyahu has called a ministerial meeting to deal with Jewish homes in the West Bank that are in danger of being evacuated – including the homes in Hebron, Migron and Ulpana.

For months parliamentarians have called on Netanyahu to back legislation that would legalise the unauthorised West Bank Jewish construction en masse. To date, Netanyahu has rejected all such attempts.

Netanyahu’s policy so far has been to take steps to legalize unauthorised Jewish construction on state land and to work to relocate building on private Palestinian property.