The Palestinian Authority has arrested several property and land brokers suspected of facilitating the transfer of homes in Jericho to Israeli settlers, amid fears the move could mark the beginning of what has been described as a “Jewish invasion” of one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Palestinian security forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Anwar Rajab said several suspects had been detained in connection with homes seized by settlers in Al-Duyuk al-Tahta, west of Jericho.
Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the brokers were suspected of facilitating the transfer of the properties as part of a plan to enable settlers to take control of an entire neighborhood. The suspects were remanded in custody for 15 days pending investigation.
The case emerged Wednesday when 20 Jewish families entered eight homes they claimed to have legally purchased through the Nachala settlement movement, with the involvement of the Binyamin Regional Council, in an operation described as secret.
The houses are located in Area C of the occupied West Bank, near the archaeological site known as the Hasmonean Palaces.
Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the purchases had been arranged in secrecy, with only a small number of people involved. Even some participants’ wives were reportedly surprised by the move.
Settlers who arrived at the site said they were reestablishing Jewish settlement in Jericho, which Jews regard as their gateway into Palestine.
The takeover sparked an uproar in the Palestinian territories, raising questions about how the properties had been transferred, whether the transactions were illegal, particularly as some of the homes stand on government-owned land, and where the Palestinian Authority had been during the process.
The site lies in Al-Duyuk al-Tahta, within Area C, but very close to Area A, which is under Palestinian administration. Establishing a settlement outpost there would therefore carry serious geographical and political implications.
The Palestinian Authority responded immediately by forming a crisis committee and launching an arrest campaign.
Palestinian Security Forces Investigate Property Transfers
In a statement, Palestinian security forces said investigations into the settlers’ seizure of homes in the Al-Duyuk area of Jericho governorate were ongoing, under close supervision by the relevant authorities and the Public Prosecution.
They said legal measures would be taken against anyone found to be involved, in accordance with established procedures.
The security forces warned citizens against dealing with documents, papers or information circulated on social media about the case or similar incidents, saying such material could be intended to sow confusion and disrupt investigations.
They urged residents and media outlets to rely exclusively on official sources and avoid rumors or unreliable information, some of which was intended to incite discord and disputes within Palestinian society.
The statement reaffirmed the security services’ commitment to protecting citizens and their property and maintaining security and public order. It said any official developments would be announced through authorized channels.
The security forces stressed that they would not allow the case to become a source of rumors or tolerate attempts to undermine public security, threaten property, mislead public opinion or exploit the investigation to spread disorder.
The statement followed the widespread circulation of forged documents seeking to implicate a Palestinian Authority figure, triggering heated debate on social media.
Before the security forces issued their statement, the Palestinian Land Authority rejected claims that preliminary sale transactions, official documents or powers of attorney existed in connection with the properties.
It said such practices formed part of Israeli occupation policies aimed at seizing more land and forcibly displacing residents.
The authority stressed that any action taken by a third party concerning state property constituted a violation of state ownership. It said no allocation, lease or other transaction had been authorized for Plot 14.
According to land records predating 1967, one of the two plots on which the buildings stand belongs to the state, while the other belongs to its historical owners.
The Land Authority maintained that the occupation could not confer property rights and that any measures taken under its authority were null and void, carrying no legal effect.
Israeli Commander Accused of Prior Knowledge
As Palestinian authorities continued their arrests and investigations, a separate controversy erupted in Israel.
Although the Israeli military initially said the operation had not been coordinated with it, Israeli security sources familiar with the matter told Haaretz that Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the military’s Central Command, had known in advance about plans by settlers and the Nachala movement to take over Palestinian homes west of Jericho.
According to the sources, Bluth met the settlers a day before they entered the properties and asked them to keep the operation secret and not inform field officers until the takeover was complete.
The sources said he had spoken with senior settler leaders involved in the operation, asked them not to disclose his prior knowledge and “wished them success.”
The allegations gained further attention following remarks by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who also accused Bluth of assisting settlers involved in attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli military dismissed the accusations as “offensive and baseless.”
Since the settlers entered the homes, the army has had to divert three combat platoons to protect them after the settlers attacked Bedouin residents in a nearby area and forced them to leave.
Israel’s Walla news website reported Saturday that the entry of Israelis into homes near Jericho had prompted two families from the local Bedouin community to abandon their temporary shelters.
The report said the army had contacted the families and offered assistance to prevent their departure, but both decided to leave.
The Israeli military said it had tried unsuccessfully to persuade the families to stay and would therefore work to prevent Jewish settlers from taking over the two vacated homes.
Senior Israeli military officials warned of the risk of further escalation.
