Peace Now blocks road to Hebron
After being denied permission to protest the takeover of a disputed house, leftists block Jerusalem-Hebron road in order to stop settlers from reaching the city
Some 30 Peace Now activists blocked the Jerusalem-Hebron tunnel road on Wednesday, in order to prevent settlers from reaching the West Bank city. Two protesters were taken in for questioning.
After being denied permission to protest in the area under the slogan: "Evacuate the disputed house immediately;" the leftist group decided to block the road.
About two weeks ago, hundreds of yeshiva students entered a house in the final stages of construction near the road between Kiryat Arba and the Cave of the Patriarchs. The settlers claimed that they had documents proving ownership of the house; however, a localPalestinian also claimed that he owned the house.
Police clearing protesters. (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Peace Now director Yariv Oppenheimer told Ynet that, "we object to the settlers' entering the disputed house and we call on the defense minister to evacuate them before the holiday is over."
According to Oppenheimer, the movement also filed a request to protest in Hebron during the Passover holiday, but was again denied, under claims that a protest would provoke the settlers living there.
"It's outrageous that only the settlers can do whatever they please in the place and we are not allowed to go near there. This is an intolerable situation. If we don’t get permission to protest in the area, we will turn to the High Court of Justice. In the meantime we will continue to protest on the way to Hebron," added Oppenheimer.
The Palestinians claimed that the settlers' takeover of the Hebron house was not an unusual occurrence.
In 2006, the Palestinian committee for the protection of homes and land in Hebron documented at least two takeovers of Palestinians homes, six incidents of invasion into homes by settlers who were eventually removed, and 18 failed attempts.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
