Two Jewish families move to create Bethlehem settlement

Two Jewish families moved into a house near Rachel's Tomb in the West Bank city of Bethlehem this week, in effect creating what appears to be a new settlement.

Israel Defense Forces officers Monday told the families and the yeshiva students also staying there that the IDF was waiting for directives from the political echelon regarding whether they would be permitted to remain at the site.

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

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.

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

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