The Supreme Court rejected today a series of lawsuits against the government orders to demolish several "unauthorized outposts" in various Judea/Samaria locations. The Yesha Council leaders are once again convened for an emergency meeting to decide how to fight the decree. "The struggle this time will be more intense than previous struggles," Yesha Council sources said today, "because the residents now understand that the fate of the entire settlement enterprise is liable to follow that of the outposts."
"No one expects the government to stop its uprooting policy with outposts," said Binyamin Council head Pinchas Wallerstein. "It's obvious that they want to uproot full-fledged communities as well. But if our right-wing parties continue to sit in this government, then this is apparently the punishment that we deserve."
The Court ruled today that the evacuation orders are based on a government decision from the days of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and that it is not authorized to overturn diplomatic decisions.
Atty. Nadav Ha'etzni, representing the residents, said that not only did his suit lose, "and not only all of Israel, but also the Supreme Court itself, I fear. This is because it is, let's say, not one of its best-documented or deepest decisions. It does not relate to many of our major claims, especially not that which regards the blatant discrimination of the government orders in ordering the demolition only Jewish locations and not Arab ones, where there are very many illegal structures."
Another point not addressed by the Court was the violation of the civil rights of those who are to be evicted. "The Court did not explain how it can maintain no jurisdiction in diplomatic matters when this leads to the trampling of individuals' civil rights," said sources close to the case.
Ha'etzni said that he will apparently ask for another review by a larger Supreme Court panel. The Yesha Council asked the Court this afternoon for a delay in the uprooting of Chazon David and Tal Binyamin, in anticipation of this request.
At issue are the following outposts: Ginot Aryeh (3 families, 20 singles) adjacent to Ofrah, and the nearby Tal Binyamin, named after Talia and Binyamin Kahane - whose terrorist murder three years ago rendered their six children orphans - and where stands the Mishp'tei Eretz Jewish Law study center; part of the Maon Farm south of Hevron; Chazon David, a small synagogue just outside Kiryat Arba, and about four other unpopulated spots.
"No one expects the government to stop its uprooting policy with outposts," said Binyamin Council head Pinchas Wallerstein. "It's obvious that they want to uproot full-fledged communities as well. But if our right-wing parties continue to sit in this government, then this is apparently the punishment that we deserve."
The Court ruled today that the evacuation orders are based on a government decision from the days of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and that it is not authorized to overturn diplomatic decisions.
Atty. Nadav Ha'etzni, representing the residents, said that not only did his suit lose, "and not only all of Israel, but also the Supreme Court itself, I fear. This is because it is, let's say, not one of its best-documented or deepest decisions. It does not relate to many of our major claims, especially not that which regards the blatant discrimination of the government orders in ordering the demolition only Jewish locations and not Arab ones, where there are very many illegal structures."
Another point not addressed by the Court was the violation of the civil rights of those who are to be evicted. "The Court did not explain how it can maintain no jurisdiction in diplomatic matters when this leads to the trampling of individuals' civil rights," said sources close to the case.
Ha'etzni said that he will apparently ask for another review by a larger Supreme Court panel. The Yesha Council asked the Court this afternoon for a delay in the uprooting of Chazon David and Tal Binyamin, in anticipation of this request.
At issue are the following outposts: Ginot Aryeh (3 families, 20 singles) adjacent to Ofrah, and the nearby Tal Binyamin, named after Talia and Binyamin Kahane - whose terrorist murder three years ago rendered their six children orphans - and where stands the Mishp'tei Eretz Jewish Law study center; part of the Maon Farm south of Hevron; Chazon David, a small synagogue just outside Kiryat Arba, and about four other unpopulated spots.