They purchased land by force from the Israelis

In the interviews taken by some Israeli researchers, they found that:

Interviewees from all groups, with the exception of site promoters, perceived the Baha'i as exerting power over the residents, in some cases with the help of the courts, to induce them to sell their apartments. In most instances, references were not to physical force but to the power stemming from influence, economic resources, and information lacked by the local residents. Thus, some interviewees associated with local groups maintained that they “may have been” forced to sell, whereas others said so with certainty. According to one interviewee, “they purchased land by force... and they came and practically forced people to sell, using temptation (money).” According to another interviewee also associated with local groups, “the Baha'i purchased apartments from the residents by exerting force and pressure on them to sell.” In their account of the events, interviewees also used words expressing power and aggressiveness, such as “theft,” “stealing,” “taking over,” and “destroying.”

Kreiner, Noga Collins; Shmueli, Deborah F.; Gal, Michal Ben. "Understanding conflicts at religious-tourism sites: The Baha'i World Center, Israel". Tourism Management Perspectives. 16: 232. ISSN 2211-9736.

https://www.academia.edu/15426699/Understanding_conflicts_at_religious_tourism_sites_The_Bahai_World_Center_Israel