Petition: Stop mining West Bank quarries
Human rights group petitions High Court for injunction against Israeli operations in quarries located in Palestinian territory, claims it violates international law
The Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights group petitioned the High Court of Justice on Monday seeking both an interim order and an injunction against the operation of 10 Israeli-controlled quarries in West Bank.
The petition claimed that mining natural resources located on occupied territory and transferring them to for use of an occupying state, was de facto plundering and therefore in breach of international law.
The group further demanded that all mining activities be halted immediately and that no new mining permits be issued. These activities, said the petition, "are the manifestation of Israel's brutal financial exploitation of occupied territory in favor of its own interests."
Yesh Din further demanded IDF Central Command Chief Major-General Gadi Shamni and Head of the Civil Administration Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai enforce the said orders and ensure the "illegal mining across the west back stops."
The group also quoted from a brief compiled by the Interior Ministry, stating that the majority of the quarries operating in the West Bank were owned by Israel and Israeli businesses and catered solely to the Israeli market's needs.
The mining, added the petition, was therefore in breach of International law sections pertaining to occupied territories and human rights (article 42 of the Laws and Customs of War on Land) and may even be considered as pillaging.
Attorney Michael Sefarad, for Yesh Din, told Ynet that an earlier appeal on the matter to the Civil Administration revealed that no brief on the legality of the mines has ever been complied.
"The fact that no one ever reviewed the legal aspects of this matter is astounding, especially given the extent of the violations of international law. These are unprecedented acts, even considering the law standards set for the West Bank to begin with."
The Civil Administration offered the following response: "The mining of the quarries in the Judea and Samaria area began dozens of years ago , while there were Palestinian-owned stone quarries in the area. Over the years, more Palestinian and Israeli-owned quarries were set up.
"The process of issuing mining permits adheres both to local statute as well as to international law stipulations, and is anchored in the financial articles of the Israel-Palestinian interim agreement. The quarries' activities has been rendered legal by the Supreme Court.
