VIDEO - "I'm staying here, no one can take me from my home," said the Jewish businessman whose purchase of a building in Hebron inflamed rigorous conflict between the city's Jewish and Palestinian residents.
The businessman, Morris Abraham, declared Wednesday that Arabs had previously tried to evict Jewish settlers from their homes, but that they would not succeed this time.
Abraham arrived in Israel with his family as well as friends from his community, and went directly to Hebron. Residents of the building welcomed him along with dozens of settlers, including singer Ariel Zilber.
Abraham with settlers at disputed house (Photo: Efrat Weiss)
Spokesman for the Jewish settlement in Hebron, Noam Arnon, said the house belongs to Abraham by law. "This is a terrible injustice and may end in looting," he said. "The purchase was clearly final and everything was documented. The government should reconsider."
Abraham said he had bought the property five years ago, while visiting Jerusalem and Hebron. He claims that it was purchased purely as a business venture, and that he had worked out the legal details with his father over a three year period.
He said he had no plans to give up what is rightfully his, and that he had a slew of documents proving ownership of the building. "We need to settle all of Israel, which is ours," Abraham announced.