Beit HaShalom

Beit HaShalom, (Hebrew: בית השלום, lit. House of Peace) or the Rajabi House, also known as Beit HaMeriva ("House of Contention"), is a four-story apartment building located in the H-2 Area of Hebron, in the West Bank. Originally built by two Palestinian businessmen, the building was later purchased and inhabited by Israeli settlers in 2007. The legitimacy of the purchase was questioned by the original builder and the case was taken to court. The Israel Police stated after an investigation that the documents purporting to show proof of purchase had been forged. In December 2008, the settlers were evacuated by the IDF following an Israeli Supreme Court order. In September 2012, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that the purchase was indeed valid, and that the house must be returned to the purchasers. In March 2014, the Israeli Supreme Court upheld the ruling. The Israeli Defense Minister subsequently allowed the settlers to reinhabit the building. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.