Protesters in front of Hevron's Peace House
Protesters in front of Hevron's Peace HouseRoman Lozovsky

Roughly 20 extreme-left activists and Arab protesters arrived at Hevron in Judea this week, but their plans to spark a confrontation with Jewish residents of the 'Peace House' and IDF soldiers were upset, as local Arab residents kicked them out of the city.

The activists had arrived with cameras and the flags of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), hoping to spark clashes with Jews in Peace House, the Hevron building that in early March finally was recognized by the Supreme Court as having been duly purchased by its Jewish owners, after a six-year-long trial and a ten-year-long struggle.

To the activists' surprise, within half an hour of starting their protest in front of the Peace House, several Arabs living in the area arrived and removed them from the area, claiming the activists were preventing them from leading normal lives in the city.

"For a relatively long period there's been quiet and co-existence here between the Jewish and Palestinian residents, and this protest only damages the neighbors living nearby who want quiet already," remarked a local Arab resident on condition of anonymity.

Malachi Levinger, head of the local resident's council, said "it's clear to us that those harming the sensitive stability in the region are the anarchists and leftist activists, who are not at all interested in peace, and in their activities sabotage the functional lifestyle in Kiryat Arba, Hevron, and other areas."

The protesters' attempts to rile up locals comes after the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Jewish owners of the Peace House, notes Levinger, adding that "any attempt on their part to ignite conflict in the area has to stop immediately, and they should feel the weight of the law for their actions."

"The removal of the anarchists by the Arab residents proves that also the residents in the area ask to live in peace and quiet, and that is certainly possible," added Levinger.

Levinger expressed his hopes that soon the Jewish owners will be allowed to take residence of the Peace House, pending the permission of Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.