PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: ARAB SELLER OF MACHPELA HOUSE SENTENCED TO DEATH

in keeping with its policy prohibiting the sale of lands to Jews, the Palestinian Authority issued a death sentence against the man who sold a home near the Cave of Machpelah, located in Hebron, West Bank, to the Jewish community. The Cave of Machpelah or the Cave of the Patriarchs is one of the holiest places in Judaism as it is the final resting place for all the patriarchs and matriarchs.
Muhammad Abu Shahala, a former intelligence agent for the Palestinian Authority, reportedly confessed to the sale after torture and was subject to a rushed trial, according to Arutz-7, which cited various news agencies. Palestinian officials said Shahala was not authorized to sell the home.
He reportedly admitted to becoming a Mossad agent in 2006. He also admitted to receiving money for the home near the Cave of the Patriarchs, and acted as an agent on behalf of the Hebron Jewish community.
The death sentence awaits the signature of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).