A surprising chapter was written in Jewish-Arab relations regarding the rule of law Monday afternoon, during a hearing by a three-judge Supreme Court panel on a petition by the Regavim organization on the destruction of nine illegal luxury homes built by Arabs near the Atarot airport north of Jerusalem and in the village of Dir Dibwan, next to the Samarian Jewish community of Ofra. The state admitted at an earlier hearing that it was taking its time to demolish the houses but had started proceedings against one of them.
During the hearing Regavim showed the judges photos of the homes. Arab justice Salim Jubran reacted, "Indeed nice houses. Whom does this bother? Whom does this hurt? They also have to live well." Justices Elyakim Rubinstein and Uzi Fogelman were amazed, but chose to ignore the questions and proceeded with the proceedings.