A tense quiet gripped the Hevron Peace House early Thursday morning amid reports that aides to Defense Minister Ehud Barak are holding secret negotiations with leaders of the Peace House and Hevron in an effort to reach a compromise and stop ongoing violence.
Barak categorically stated Wednesday night that no such talks were taking place, but the Hebrew-language newspaper Ma'ariv stated that leaders from Hevron community and Yesha (the regions of Judea and Samaria) met Wednesday night with lawyers from the office of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
The newspaper said that Yesha human rights spokeswoman Orit Struk and Hevron attorney Elyakim HaEtzni also participated in the secret talks towards a compromise that no expulsion of the Jewish residents would take place until a civil court rules on who is the legal owner of the building.
In exchange, all of the non-residents of the Peace House would leave and the families remaining there would agree to leave peacefully if the court rules against the Jew, Morris Abraham, who has claimed ownership of the structure.
Eitan Broshi, a senior aide in the Defense Ministry, confirmed Thursday morning that the meeting took place but added that there will be no compromise on the law. He said the Defense Ministry will act according to the court ruling and advice of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz.
Defense Minister Barak continued to refer to his carrying out the ruling of the High Court by ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Peace House, despite the fact that the decision did not order the removal of Jews from the building, and specifically states only that the government has the option of removing them.
He said that the Arab who sold the building reneged after being threatened with death by the Palestinian Authority although he was filmed receiving $700,000 for the sale.
Former nationalist Knesset Member Geula Cohen said Thursday morning she stayed at the Peace House and most of the youth were disciplined and non-violent. She castigated the media for totally ignoring rock attacks by Arabs but giving detailed coverage of every stone that Jews threw back at the Arabs.
One Jewish youth - Elyasaf Amos ben Nurit - remains in serious condition after suffering severe head wounds from a huge rock that an Arab threw at him Tuesday.