Jericho Homes: IDF Says Families' Entry Was Unauthorized

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated on Wednesday that eight Jewish families moved into newly purchased homes near Jericho without first coordinating with the military and without authorization. Soldiers are now deployed at the site. The houses stand in Area C, directly alongside Area A, which is under the Palestinian Authority's civilian and security control.

"The entry into the homes was carried out without prior coordination with the IDF and without authorization. The purchase process and its resulting security implications are currently being examined by the relevant authorities. IDF forces are present in the area."

The move took the military by surprise. That included Division 96, the formation responsible for the Jericho sector and Israel's eastern frontier. The army sent roughly three platoons of combat soldiers to secure the families, moving them from other duties, among them anti-smuggling missions on the Jordanian border and routine security operations.

The settlers in Jericho today (Photo: Binyamin Council spokesperson)

The Nachala settlement movement spearheaded the initiative. Area C, where the homes are located, is under Israeli civilian and security control.

The organizers told Arutz Sheva that the houses fall within the jurisdiction of the Binyamin Regional Council. They said several of the homes lie at the edge of Jericho, close to the Hasmonean Palaces archaeological site and beneath the farm that bears the same name. The organizers also stressed that every house was paid for in full and that ownership documents back the deals.

The Binyamin Regional Council released an official video showing the families entering the homes. Palestinian channels offered a different account, describing "settlers" taking over eight houses in the village of Duyuk in western Jericho.

Hassan Malihaat, general inspector of the Al-Bidar organization in Jericho, said the houses in Al-Duyuk al-Tahta, west of the city, sit close to Jericho's center. He warned that they pose a danger to local residents and that a settlement neighborhood could be established there. Malihaat noted that the homes were built on land classified as Area C, bordering land designated Area A.