Settlers say they purchased home, next to Cave of the Patriarchs; IDF cordons off building until ownership clarified

150 Israelis entered a three-story house located next to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron late Wednesday night.

Settlers who entered the empty home say they purchased it legally from a Palestinian. The police and army have decided to cordon off the home to prevent more people from entering until ownership of the home is confirmed.

The building, known as Beit Hamachpela, is the latest of a number of homes Israelis in the mixed city have tried to enter and claimed ownership to.

In 2008, the IDF evacuated settlers who had moved into the Beit Hameriva, or House of Contention, building between Hebron and Kiryat Arba. The building was also known as Beit Hashalom, or house of Peace.

In that case the High Court ruled the settlers did not have a solid claim to the four-story building.

MK Michael Ben Ari called on settlers Wednesday to retake homes that belonged to Jews before the city came under Jordanian control in 1948.

“The time has come to return to our homes in the city of our fathers that were stolen by the enemy,” he said. (© 2012 THE TIMES OF ISRAEL 03/29/12)