'Peace House Empty in 30 Days'
'Peace House Empty in 30 Days'

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Thursday that the Peace House in Hevron would be empty within 30 days. In a conversation with a Ynet reporter, Dichter said, “Within 30 days, this house will be cleared out and turned over to the state until the court issues its verdict.”

Dichter met on Thursday with top police brass, IDF officers and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agents and ordered them to remove Jews from the Peace House “exactly as written” in the High Court eviction order. “The rule of law is not a suggestion, but rather an operation to be accomplished completely,” he said.

Implementation of the eviction order will constitute “a test for the rule of law in Israel,” he said. Dichter expressed hope that the eviction would proceed without violence, saying, “There are some who understand that the High Court's order is binding, and I hope there will be dialog and there will be no need to use force.” However, law enforcement agents are prepared to use force if necessary, he added.

Hevron's Jewish community says the house was legally purchased from a local Arab, and has presented audio and video recordings showing him admitting to making the sale.

The High Court has ruled that the 24 Jewish families living in the Peace House must be removed while a lower court determines who is the rightful owner of the property. In addition, the court ruled that groups representing Hevron's Jews must pay the governmet NIS 15,000, and another 15,000 shekels to the Arab who denies having made the sale.

The previous owner says the sale never went through, and claims Jewish families took the building by force. If he were to admit to selling the building, he could be tried and sentenced to death under Palestinian Authority law, which forbids selling property to Jews.

Jewish residents of Hevron have called on supporters to join them and resist the expulsion of Jewish families from the Peace House. The court's decision to force Jews out was made for political reasons, they say, in order to prevent Jewish growth in the city. If many supporters come now, the expulsion could be prevented, they say.

Security officials accused Jewish protesters of attacking soldiers and vandalizing a mosque. Pictures of the vandalized mosque sent to Israeli media outlets showed a building with the words “Do not fear” written on it in Hebrew, alongside a star of David.  Hevron Jews say the graffiti could easily have been painted by Arabs or other provocateurs.