Barak does not want Jews in Hevron nor in Judea and Samaria, Likud Minister Limor Livnat charged Tuesday morning after his refusal to stop the scheduled expulsion of 15 Jewish families from their newly-purchased home.
She said that Barak would not have opposed Arabs moving into a house if they had bought it and that his policies do not allow Jews to do so. She reminded listeners on Voice of Israel government radio that the Jewish community has thrived in Hevron for centuries and that even David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister and an avowed leftist, realized that Hevron is the “city of our forefathers” and considered it a sister city of Jerusalem.
The Civil Lands Administration, part of the IDF and subject to orders by Barak, has ordered police to act by 3 p.m. Tuesday to force 15 families out of their homes, which the IDF has acknowledged was legally purchased last week.
The building, dubbed the "Machpelah House,” is located across the street from the Cave of the Patriarchs, known as the “Machpelah” Cave in Hebrew, referring to the twin caves that the forefather Avraham purchased in Hevron from local Arabs.
Barak reportedly has rejected a request by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to delay the expulsion until all legal appeals are processed.
Officially, no Jews can move into any house in Judea and Samaria without the approval of Barak, but the rule is almost never applied. There are no restrictions against Arabs.
Livnat is a veteran Likud Knesset Member who refused to jump ship and join the pro-Gush Katif expulsion party formed by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon seven years ago.