The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is opening a Hevron branch office in Peace House, the building whose residents are currently facing eviction by the state. A brief ceremony to officially open the ZOA branch office at Peace House is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, at 10:00 a.m.
Jeff Daube, Director of the ZOA's Israel Office, announced the opening of the Peace House office on Monday. "I 
ZOA's tens of thousands of members stand behind Peace House's Jewish residents.
believe Hebron, much like Jerusalem, is a Jewish and Zionist treasure held in sacred trust by the Jewish State for the entire Jewish Nation. As the Israel representative of the ZOA and an Israeli citizen, I feel a special obligation to express my membership's concern for and identification with the Jewish community of Hebron. I encourage everyone to join me at Beit Hashalom ['Peace House'] so that we can let the government know, with one unified voice, that Beit Hashalom should remain an integral part of Jewish Hebron, now and forever."
Daube is joining Member of Knesset Nissim Ze'ev (Shas), who opened a parliamentary office in Peace House as well. Daube says he plans to devote as much time as possible to the new office. His action, he explained, is intended to demonstrate that the ZOA's tens of thousands of members stand behind Peace House's Jewish residents. He will be working with the leadership of the Jewish community of Hevron to facilitate visits to the city by concerned Israelis and foreigners wishing to express their solidarity.
The ZOA questioned government claims regarding the illegality of Jewish residence in Peace House despite the overwhelming preponderance of evidence attesting to the contrary - including videos, documents and tape recordings. The current owner, Morris Abraham, acquired the building at great expense and in a perfectly legal manner from its former Arab owner, who has subsequently confirmed this fact, noted the ZOA announcement.
"The Israeli Supreme Court willfully ignored critical evidence in order to render a blatantly political and biased decision," the ZOA claimed, which "brings great shame to what should be an impartial institution."
The ZOA further noted that Hevron was the capital of the State of Israel under King David's rule before Jerusalem. Moreover, the Machpela Cave, the burial place of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hevron, is considered to be Judaism's second holiest site after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City.
In its announcement of the new Hevron branch, the ZOA's Israel-based leadership observed, "It is obvious to all who visit that Beit Hashalom occupies a strategic spot on the road leading to the Mearat Hamachpela ('Machpela Cave'), and is therefore integral to ensuring safe passage to a major Jewish holy site, a principle that is guaranteed by previous agreements with the Palestinian Authority. Unfortunately, the PA has repeatedly violated this, among other agreements, with impunity - whether at Shechem's Joseph's Tomb, Jericho's Shalom Al Yisrael Synagogue or elsewhere."
