Palestinian Authority unity government chairman Mahmoud Abbas has increased the severity of punishment for Arabs who decide to lease or sell their land to Jews.
Abbas issued the order – aimed at PA Arabs who make real estate deals with “hostile countries” and their citizens – on Monday.
The move followed an announcement by the Ateret Cohanim organization that publicized the , known also as Silwan, by a private Jewish entity. Nine Jewish families and rabbinic students moved into the two buildings.
Four years ago, a Palestinian Authority court reaffirmed that the sale of land by PA Arab to an Israeli is a capital offense that carries the death sentence.
In Monday’s order, Abbas amended the PA penal code to add a punishment of “hard labor” in addition to life imprisonment for any PA Arab who sells, rents, or otherwise serves as a mediator in a real estate transaction with “hostile nations” and their citizens.