The Hebron Press Office
Monday January 16, 2006

1. Hebron declared "closed military zone"
Israeli central command General Yair Nave tonight declared all of Hebron to
be a 'closed military zone.' According to this military order, only
residents of Hebron will be allowed into the city. All others will have to
request 'special permission' from the "Judea' regional brigade." The order
is due to be in effect until January 22.

A Hebron spokesman issued the following statement: The latest decree
declared against Hebron's Jewish community represents the evil personified
by various forces and officials in the State of Israel. Hebron, the first
Jewish city in Eretz Yisrael, the roots of the Jewish people, site of
Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Caves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, was closed
to the Jewish people for 19 years, between 1948 and 1967, when under
Jordanian occupation following the War of Independence. Entrance to Ma'arat
HaMachpela was off-limits to Jews for 700 years, from 1267, following the
Mameluk victory over the Crusaders, until the Six-Day War in 1967.

Now, the State of Israel, impersonating the Mameluks and the Jordanians, is
again closing Ma'arat HaMachpela to Jews. True, not all Jews - only those
few million not yet living in Hebron. What could be more dastardly than
placing the 2nd holiest site to the Jewish people in all the world, again,
off-limits? It could be worse - the Wall could be closed to all Jews not
living in the Old City. And it wouldn't surprise us if this too happens one
day. Any regime that is capable of attempting to place Hebron off-limits is
capable of anything.

The total responsibility for all events having occurred in Hebron over the
past week lies with the Israeli government, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz,
Defense Minister Shaul Mufaz, and the military personnel willing to carry
out expulsion orders. The best way to restore 'law and order" in Hebron, is
not by forbidding Jews to enter the city; rather it is to rescind expulsion
notices and allow Jews to continue to live and expand in the City of the
Forefathers.

2. Hebron family goes to court
Rabbi Yisrael and Mrs. Tzippy Shlissel today petitioned the "Shalom" court
in Beit Shemsh, requested an injunction preventing expulsion from their home
in the Mitzpe Shalhevet neighborhood.

Rabbi Shlissel is the dean of the Ohr Shlomo Torah Study Center in the Admot
Ishai (Tel Rumeida) neighborhood of Hebron. The center is named after his
father-in-law Rabbi Shlomo Ra'anan, the 63 year old grandson of Rabbi
Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook, killed by terrorists over 7 years ago at his
home in that neighborhood. Parents of 10 children, the Shlissels moved to
Hebron following the murder in order to be closer to Tzippy's mother, Chaya.

The main points of the Shissel's claim:
1. We were never issued an eviction notice and were not included in any
legal proceeding dealing with our home.
2. A special judicial committee recommended by majority vote to rent the
property under discussion to the Jewish community of Hebron. This would
allow us to remain living in our home.
3. We have proven (in this claim) that the military has already told the
Supreme Court that they intend rent the property to the Jewish Community of
Hebron and they have agreed to rent the property.
4. We have proven that legally, the Jewish Community of Hebron must provide
us with alternative housing should we be expelled from our home and that
they will be responsible for any damages caused by the expulsion.

In light of these claims, we request that the court issue an injunction
preventing expulsion until another decision is reached.