January 24, 2011

Press release – for immediate release

Following Yesh Din's petition:

Court orders State to halt illegal construction in Beit El
In a hearing held Monday in the High Court of Justice (HCJ), Justices Beinish, Arbel
and Meltzer called on the State to enforce the stop-work orders it issued for five
buildings which are being built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian land. The
HCJ also ordered the State to explain why it is not enforcing the demolition orders
issued for these buildings

The Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) issued today (Monday) a temporary injunction,
ordering the State to actively enforce the stop-work orders it issued for five buildings
under construction, erected illegally on land owned by Abed al-Rahman Kassem, a
resident of the village of Dura al Kara in the West Bank.

In late December, Kassem petitioned the HCJ with the assistance of human rights
group Yesh Din. In a hearing held today in the HCJ, the three justices –Chief Justice
Dorit Beinish, and Justices Hanan Meltzer and Edna Arbel – called on the authorities
to refrain from connecting the newly erected buildings to the facilities, and also
issued an interlocutory order under which the State must explain why it is not
enforcing the final demolition orders issued for these buildings.

The buildings, which are under construction, are within the boundaries of the
municipal council of Beit El, but the construction is carried out illegally: there were
no building permits issued, nor was a valid plan approved. The construction is carried
out in violation of stop-work orders and demolition orders that were already
issued. Finally, and most importantly, the construction is taking place on privately-
owned Palestinian land, which was taken years ago for military reasons; the
buildings erected are clearly meant for housing, and serve no military purpose
whatsoever.

"The court was very precise – the law enforcement agencies must enforce the orders
they issued – and abide by the law", said attorney Shlomy Zachary of the Yesh Din
legal team. The HCJ made it clear that private Palestinian land cannot fall prey to
illegal activities, and steps must be taken to enforce the law and stop these
activities".
For further information please contact Yesh Din spokeswoman

Dana Zimmerman, at +972-54-245-7682