Update Part 2 - Beit HaShalom

(My apologies for not getting the promised in depth articles published this week in the blog. They are still forthcoming)

Part 2 of the Recent Developments Update:

Beit HaShalom

The ongoing saga with Beit HaShalom is a mixed one - both encouraging and outrageous.

For those who are not familiar with the case, Beit haShalom (Peace House) is a large housing complex in Hebron, purchased by Jews from an Arab through a middle man. The Arab later denied selling it as his life was in grave danger. In the Arab world in this neck of the woods, selling property to a Jew carries with it a death sentence...(you know, from the peaceful group that wants a state in the midst of Israel.) The Jewish families, however, have produced documents and video tape proving the sale.

The decision as to who owns the property is "somehow" still in dispute, and the States and the Courts have refused to acknowledge the facts presented. The State wishes to evict the Jewish residents, claiming they are there illegally (that they don't own the property).

Of course, it isn't about illegality, it is about the effort by the State to remove Jews from Hebron, period.

Recently the Supreme Court made a ruling regarding the eviction orders of the State. Unfortunately, there have been numerous misleading statements by DM Barak (and I repeat my earlier comments...the one who is supposed to be protecting us from our enemies, not attacking loyal citizens), Public Security Minster Avi Dichter, and the media regarding the Supreme Court decision.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday morning that the State will evict the 24 Jewish families from the Peace House near Hevron, in keeping with the ruling handed down by the State's High Court . " The media has consistently (except for some later articles correcting it by A7) repeated that the Courts "ordered" the eviction.

The Supreme Court did not order the eviction of the Beit Shalom residents, but rather allowed the State to proceed if it wished. While the Court twisted the words of the previous decision to even allow the eviction, it never ordered it.

We must be thankful that, as of today, the 24 families are still living in the building, B'H. In addition, hundreds of people daily stream to Hevron to fortify the families there, and to add support and presence in case the State moves to evict them.

Barak, who is on a rampage in Hebron/Kiyrat Arba, said today that he will use force (read brutal thugs) if he has to (read wants to).

There is more good news however, and that is that Morris Abraham, the man who put up the money for the house, a Syrian Jew who lives in Brooklyn, NY, has arrived at the scene with members of the Syrian Jewish community in New York.

Morris Abraham photo by AFP/Getty .

Abraham's family was forced out of Hebron in the 1929 massacre by local arabs, and he simply states "we will not be forced to leave again." Read about him and hear his moving story here. Additional background to Beit haShalom here.

I will update you as things unfold