The Supreme Court rejected a request today by the Hevron Jewish Community to deal urgently with an issue that has been on hold for over three months. The Court issued a restraining order in December preventing the demolition of several buildings along the route leading to the Machpelah Cave. The army had requested permission to raze the buildings, which it said presented a danger to the thousands of Jewish worshipers who walk each week along that narrow street to the Machpelah Cave.
Following the recent attacks in Hevron and Kiryat Arba - the terrorist murder of Rabbi and Mrs. Horowitz on Friday night and the fatal shooting of Sgt. Tomer Ron on Monday - the Jewish Community asked that the Court finally get around to deciding on the issue, because "human life is at stake." The petitioners also said that the injunction is blocking construction of an additional route between Hevron and Kiryat Arba. They noted that on Monday night, during and after the attack, the only road between the two communities was rendered inaccessible, leaving many people unable to reach their homes.
The Court, however, ruled that the issue was not urgent, and that the case would be heard at another date.
In other Hevron news, the Ma'ariv newspaper internet site agreed to change its daily poll question of yesterday, following a protest from the Hevron Jewish Community and public pressure. The poll question asked whether the Jews of Hevron "should be evicted as a result of the latest terror attacks." Editor Amnon Dankner later informed the Hevron Community, "I was made aware of the incident as a result of your request and other complaints. I then directed that the poll be removed from the internet site, and reprimanded those responsible."
Opposition leader MK Amram Mitzna (Labor) was widely quoted yesterday as saying that Hevron is indefensible, and that because the army cannot prevent terror in the city, the Jews should, "with all due sorrow, be removed from Hevron." Hevron spokesmen responded that the remarks are
"nothing less than incitement, aiding and abetting the enemy, suggesting that the Arabs receive a prize for their continued killing of Jews. The Arabs will understand Mitzna as hinting that ... the end result will inevitably be the removal of Jews from Hevron. This being the case, why should they stop killing Jews in Hevron?
"In addition, Mitzna also expressed total despair, having given up all hope in the IDF's ability to provide security for Israelis. How does a person who is considered to be a leader, lose total faith in the ability of Israel's armed forces, one of the best armies in the world?
"We ask Mitzna: Do you suggest evacuating Haifa too - after all, the city has suffered tremendously at the hands of Arab terrorist killers? Why do you believe that the IDF will be able to better protect Jews in Haifa any better than they can protect Jews in Hevron?"
Mitzna served as Mayor of Haifa until recently.
Following the recent attacks in Hevron and Kiryat Arba - the terrorist murder of Rabbi and Mrs. Horowitz on Friday night and the fatal shooting of Sgt. Tomer Ron on Monday - the Jewish Community asked that the Court finally get around to deciding on the issue, because "human life is at stake." The petitioners also said that the injunction is blocking construction of an additional route between Hevron and Kiryat Arba. They noted that on Monday night, during and after the attack, the only road between the two communities was rendered inaccessible, leaving many people unable to reach their homes.
The Court, however, ruled that the issue was not urgent, and that the case would be heard at another date.
In other Hevron news, the Ma'ariv newspaper internet site agreed to change its daily poll question of yesterday, following a protest from the Hevron Jewish Community and public pressure. The poll question asked whether the Jews of Hevron "should be evicted as a result of the latest terror attacks." Editor Amnon Dankner later informed the Hevron Community, "I was made aware of the incident as a result of your request and other complaints. I then directed that the poll be removed from the internet site, and reprimanded those responsible."
Opposition leader MK Amram Mitzna (Labor) was widely quoted yesterday as saying that Hevron is indefensible, and that because the army cannot prevent terror in the city, the Jews should, "with all due sorrow, be removed from Hevron." Hevron spokesmen responded that the remarks are
"nothing less than incitement, aiding and abetting the enemy, suggesting that the Arabs receive a prize for their continued killing of Jews. The Arabs will understand Mitzna as hinting that ... the end result will inevitably be the removal of Jews from Hevron. This being the case, why should they stop killing Jews in Hevron?
"In addition, Mitzna also expressed total despair, having given up all hope in the IDF's ability to provide security for Israelis. How does a person who is considered to be a leader, lose total faith in the ability of Israel's armed forces, one of the best armies in the world?
"We ask Mitzna: Do you suggest evacuating Haifa too - after all, the city has suffered tremendously at the hands of Arab terrorist killers? Why do you believe that the IDF will be able to better protect Jews in Haifa any better than they can protect Jews in Hevron?"
Mitzna served as Mayor of Haifa until recently.