Settlers removed from Hebron buildings

The proximity of the apartments of the Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as al-Ibrahimi Mosque, adds to the tension, as the site is religiously important to both Muslims and Jews.

Israel’s 34th government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on a narrow coalition of 61 lawmakers at the Knesset, with 59 lawmakers in the opposition.

Palestinians from the West Bank protest near the Jewish Hallamish settlement.

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon would have to approve the settlers’ move, which would in effect expand the boundaries of the Jewish area in Hebron.

She said there had been no trouble before her daughter left the family home, a tent in the Palestinian village of Anata. However, even if it suffers a defeat in parliament, the government is not seen as likely to collapse. Immigrant Absorption and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin called on Ya’alon to halt the eviction of settlers from homes “they legally purchased”. Officers on Friday morning evicted the settlers from two homes of Palestinians in Hebron, a flashpoint city during recent unrest. Another Hezbollah operative instructed the cell about using explosives, training suicide bombers, gathering intelligence on security forces and purchasing weapons, they said. Selling property to Israelis is considered taboo in Palestinian society and is against Palestinian law. They were not granted a permit of transaction, required under military orders in the Occupied Territories for carrying out real-estate deals.

The United States, whose ambassador angered Israel this week with criticism of its West Bank policy, said on Wednesday it was strongly opposed to any move that accelerates settlement expansion.

The last round of talks between Israelis and Palestinians on a two-state solution broke down in April 2014.

Hebron has a small and heavily guarded community of Israeli settlers, and their attempts to enlarge their presence are met with hostility. The second attack on a bus killed three Israelis.

Palestinian leaders on their end charge the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories, ongoing since 1967, and dim prospects of establishing a Palestinian state in these territories, are the cause for frustration leading Palestinians to carry out attacks.

Violence has escalated since October, with 25 Israelis, an Eritrean and a USA citizen killed in stabbings, shooting and car-rammings, and at least 150 Palestinians – including 94 that Israel says were assailants – killed in Israeli military operations.