10-25-2004

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/493329.html

Two Jewish families move into house near Rachel's Tomb

By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent

Two Jewish families moved into a house near Rachel's Tomb in the West
Bank city of Bethlehem this week, ahead of the anniversary of the
matriarch Rachel's death.

Israel Defense Forces officers on Monday told the families and the
yeshiva students who were also staying there that the army was
waiting for directives from the political echelon regarding whether
they could continue to remain at the site.

Right-wing activists and people involved with the yeshiva were
preparing to ultimately bring 10 families to live there and transform
it into a settlement near the holy site, on the northern outskirts of
Bethlehem, to provide a basis for a Jewish hold in that region.

The move took place Sunday, about two years after the house was
purchased by Jewish buyers with the permission of then-defense
minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and the Civil Administration.

A yeshiva has been operating at the site for about a year, with the
permission of Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

Tuesday, the 11th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, marks the
anniversary of the matriarch Rachel's death, according to Jewish
tradition.

Activists from the Shavei Rachel group, who are involved in the move,
said that the site had undergone renovations throughout the past year
and that the building was connected to the grave compound with the
approval, aid and knowledge of the army and the political echelon.

National Union MKs Uri Ariel, Benny Elon and Aryeh Eldad visited the
building Monday afternoon, and said the move was represented a
response to the disengagement plan, on which the Knesset plenum will
vote Tuesday.