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Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Photo: AP
Disputed Hebron house
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Barak: Judicial system too lenient on lawbreakers

During cabinet meeting discussing law enforcement in West Bank, defense minister says judicial system's leniency towards Jewish rioters undermines defense establishment's deterrence. Appraisers to be sent to Hebron to asses possible compensation to Palestinians, he adds

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that the judicial system is Israel was being too lenient with West Bank lawbreakers and therefore undermining deterrence and preventing the defense establishment from being able to nip the phenomenon at the bud.

 

"Harsher penalties should be given to lawbreakers in the West Bank," Barak said at cabinet meeting on law enforcement in the West Bank. "This is the attempt of an extremist minority group to undermine the State's authority.

 

"The supreme interest of a country that wants life, is to uphold its strength and its laws in the face of its citizens. The police, military, prosecution and judicial system should work together to this effect."

 

As an example, Barak mentioned what he called the lenient punishment placed on Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, who was convicted of assaulting Major-General Elazar Stern and was sentenced to two months probation.

 

"This is just one case out of a line of verdicts that show a lenient attitude towards lawbreakers," Barak said.

 

The defense minister continued to detail the activity taking place in the field, especially following recent events including the evacuation of the disputed house in Hebron.

 

According to Barak, the IDF upholds a strict policy against lawbreakers that includes accurate documentation of their offences and the detention of the perpetrators until police arrive.

 

No new outposts in 2 years

The IDF and the defense establishment also take a harsh stance against illegal outposts, Barak said. In the past two years, no new outposts have been constructed and three have been cleared, namely Yatir, Ofra and Mevo Horon.

 

The IDF also attempts to prevent outposts from being set up, the defense minister said, giving the example of the Shvut Ami outpost that was evacuated 20 times.

 

Barak added that the Migron outpost is in the middle of willful evacuation that is expected to be complete in about two years once the outpost is moved to another location.

 

From the start of 2008 over 90 illegal structures built by Jews and Palestinians were demolished, and over 10 injunctions were issued against Jewish intruders on private Palestinian lands, for example the disputed Hebron house.

 

"The efficient treatment of the brown house (disputed Hebron house) gives a clear and uncompromising message from the State to its citizens," Barak said.

 

"We know this is not the end, but it's a good example that demonstrates that determination and assertiveness, in the right combination with excellent execution, will bring worthy results."

 

Appraisers sent to Hebron

Barak told the ministers he instructed the defense establishment to send appraisers to Hebron to, along with a legal committee, examine the possibility of compensating Palestinians that suffered loses during Jewish riots.

 

The defense minister said that during the months of the olive harvest a number of IDF squadrons were deployed in the area and allowed the most efficient olive harvest in years, while reinforced police dispatched in the area led to the quick arrest of rioters.

 

In the meeting Barak said the defense establishment was using administrative arrests to prevent disruptions and riots, and that house arrests, restraining orders, property confiscation, and restriction of movement in Israel were just some of the methods the defense establishment planned to use against lawbreakers.

 

Present at the meeting were Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilani, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Shin Bet Head Yuval Diskin, Israel Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and Head of Defense Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau Amos Gilad.

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.14.08, 13:40
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