A strategically situated house in the Old City of Jerusalem near Al-Aqsa Mosque was taken over Oct. 3 by Jewish extremists belonging to the Ateret Cohanim group — whose sole purpose is to Judaize the Old City of Jerusalem through the takeover of Palestinian homes.

According to American Friends of Ateret Cohanim, “The aim of Ateret Cohanim is to fulfill a generations old dream of rebuilding & securing a United Jerusalem, strengthening our Jewish roots and reestablishing the once thriving Jewish communities.”

The story of the transfer of the house to Jewish hands is full of intrigue, claims and counterclaims, money, internal politics and the role of local and international players, including ones in the United Arab Emirates. Al-Monitor was told key details of the story by reliable sources.

Khaleel Assali, the correspondent of Sawa Radio in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor that the case involved a well-respected Jerusalemite, Adeeb Jodeh, who has been looking to sell his family home. “He made visits to various Palestinian organizations and individuals, trying to convince them to buy the house so that it doesn’t fall in the wrong hands,” Assali said. Homes in the Old City are sold for very high prices.