Palestinians deny sale of Machpelah house
Palestinian family who lived in contested Hebron property says it never sold it to anyone; settlers forged ownership papers
The Palestinian family who claims to be the rightful owners of the Machpelah house in Hebron told Ynet Tuesday that the house was never sold to anyone – Jewish or otherwise.
On Tuesday afternoon the premises became the scene of a standoff between security forces and the settlers who have taken up residents on the property.
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The Civil Administration had ordered the evacuation of the house by 3 pm, but the settlers have yet to leave. Still, the Palestinian family expressed confidence that they will be evicted.
Hazem Abu Rajab, whose family claims to have lived in the house until the settlers moved in, told Ynet that "They came into the house at 1:30 am, accompanied by the military and the police.
"They broke all three doors to get in. We were asleep. We asked the police to let us take some personal items, but they said no and told us to leave. They said we could file a complaint."
'Property owned by 120-member clan'
Rajab added that the property was in the name of Ibrahim Abu Rajab and that 120 family members have a stake in the property.
At the time when they were evicted by the settlers, 25 family members were living in the house, he said.
Rajab stressed that the family never sold the house and that he has never met the man the settlers claim sold them the house; adding that the papers the settlers have are forged.
Attorney Samar Shehade, who represents the family, reiterated that sale's denial, saying that none of the house's legal owners were ever approached about a sale.
He too said that the settlers' papers were forgeries: "This house is no different than any other home invaded by the settlers in Hebron… I'm confident that there was never any deal and that we will be able to evict them."
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