Illegal neighborhood will not be demolished
High Court rejects Bil'in, Peace Now's petition to cease construction on Heftsiba's project in Modi'in Illit. Project to be finished, houses will be populated
The High Court of Justice rejected Wednesday the petition filed by Peace Now demanding the demolition of the Matityahu Mizrach neighborhood, located east of the settlement of Modi'in Illit.
Peace Now and the village council of Bil'in, the Palestinian village on whose lands allegedly the neighborhood was built, petitioned the High Court demanding the illegal building project – thousands of residential units built by Heftsiba – be ceased.
About a year ago, former High Court President, Justice Aharon Barak, issued an injunction against the project, but the three-judge panel residing over the hearing decided to revoke it despite "the very serious problem of mass building without any plans or permits."
The court further said that despite the fact that the construction was illegal, the houses would be populated and not demolished.
Bil'in's residents are also planning to seek legal action against Heftsiba's CEO, Boaz Yona, currently awaiting extradition from Italy, claiming he is liable for the illegal construction.
On Tuesday, the High Court granted a separate petition by the residents of Bil'in, concerning the outline of the separation fence. The court ordered the IDF to move the fence in a way that would minimize the damage caused to Bil'in's land.
