Peace Now had objected to the allocation by many local municipal councils in Judea and Samaria of funds and resources towards the political struggle against the Disengagement. The financing of the political struggle against last summer's expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif and northern Shomron appeared to the residents to be a natural outgrowth of their own solidarity with areas liberated in the Six Day War and not yet annexed by Israel.
Peace Now, however, objected. The radical left-wing organization, which stands behind most of the public struggles to destroy the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, claimed that public monies dare not be used to fund political struggles against public Israeli policy.
A majority of the five-justice panel disagreed. The Supreme Court ruled that the municipalities are legally permitted to fund public protests against withdrawals. The ruling paves the way for the regional councils to take active part in the protests against the Olmert government's plans to withdraw from most of Judea and Samaria.
The Court qualified its ruling by stating that the government may, it if wishes, deduct from the municipalities' nationally-provided budgets the amounts used for political struggles.
The Yesha Council, the council representing the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria, released a statement supporting the decision. "This decision is a very important fundamental for the maintenance of democracy and the recognition of the right to protest," the Council said.
Peace Now, however, objected. The radical left-wing organization, which stands behind most of the public struggles to destroy the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, claimed that public monies dare not be used to fund political struggles against public Israeli policy.
A majority of the five-justice panel disagreed. The Supreme Court ruled that the municipalities are legally permitted to fund public protests against withdrawals. The ruling paves the way for the regional councils to take active part in the protests against the Olmert government's plans to withdraw from most of Judea and Samaria.
The Court qualified its ruling by stating that the government may, it if wishes, deduct from the municipalities' nationally-provided budgets the amounts used for political struggles.
The Yesha Council, the council representing the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria, released a statement supporting the decision. "This decision is a very important fundamental for the maintenance of democracy and the recognition of the right to protest," the Council said.