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Israel's Chief Justice lashes out over outposts

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Israel's High Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch lashed out at the Israeli government for failing to take action against illegal settlement construction.

"For years, we have been hearing from you about demolition orders that the authorities issue," Chief Justice Beinisch scolded the government lawyer. "But each time, nothing happens. You keep saying the law must be observed, and this is obvious. But, then, it is your duty to honor what you say."

 

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Aerial photo of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona. In 2006, Israel demolished nine buildings built by Amana on private Palestinian property at the site. That law enforcement action was also the result of legal action by Peace Now. 

In a hearing about a Peace Now legal petition, Israel's High Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch lashed out at the Israeli government for failing to take action against illegal settlement construction.

"For years, we have been hearing from you about demolition orders that the authorities issue," Chief Justice Beinisch scolded the government lawyer. "But each time, nothing happens. You keep saying the law must be observed, and this is obvious. But, then, it is your duty to honor what you say."

Peace Now filed the petition in September 2005. It called on Israel to make good on its own orders to demolish 18 buildings in two outposts. The structures were built on survey land, whose ownership is unclear, or on land owned by Palestinians. All of the construction took place without building permits.

Israel agreed with Peace Now that the buildings were illegal, but it never acted on the demolition orders. Instead it stalled, filing more than 20 requests to postpone hearings on the Peace Now petition.

This petition is one of a number of legal actions taken by Peace Now on settlements. Previous Peace Now legal advocacy froze massive settler projects, resulted in the expulsion of settlers from private property, and dried up funding for settlements. Peace Now fights the expansion of settlements because they undermine Israeli security, drain financial resources, and jeopardize the viability of a two-state solution.