Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered Wednesday to launch proceedings aimed at razing the house of the terrorist who carried out the Mercaz Harav yeshiva attack in Jerusalem about five months ago.
The decision was made after a briefing that included Shin Bet, police and IDF Home Front Command assessments.
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The terrorist's family has been given one week to appeal the decision to the IDF. Should the appeal be rejected, the family will be granted another week to petition the Supreme Court on the matter.
Barak, who backed the proposal to demolish the house immediately after the attack, accepted the recommendations submitted to him by security officials. Meanwhile, the defense minister turned to legal experts at his office and instructed them to look for ways to make the demolition process quicker in future cases.
For the time being, no final decision has been taken regarding the house of the east Jerusalem resident who carried out the first bulldozer attack in the capital. However, security officials estimated that his house will ultimately be razed or sealed off in order to deter future terrorists.
Former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to stop house demolitions several years ago, after a military committee ruled that the move did not serve as a deterrent to terrorists. Barak's latest decision will likely reignite the debate on the contentious issue.
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