Modiin Illit
Photo: AP
Naalin protest (archives)
Photo: AFP
Petition: Naalin residents want Modiin Illit park razed
Tenants of Ramallah adjacent town say 5.4-acre park gracing city's entrance was illegally built on private land; demand court order its demolition
Palestinian residents of the West Bank town of Naalin, near the city of Ramallah, petitioned the High Court Wednesday asking it orders the city of Modiin Illit, located midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, to carry out demolition orders for a 5.4-acres city park, supposedly built on private lands.
The petitioners name Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Central Command Chief Major-General Gadi Shamni and the City of Modiin Illit, in their motion.
The motion, filed by Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights by Attorney Michael Sefarad, argues that the plaintiffs' access to their land was cut off in 2000 due to the events of the al-Aqsa Intifada and the restrictions places on Palestinians' movements thereafter.
The plaintiffs further claim that in 2003, the city began construction on the park without the proper permits. They then had the Civil Administration issue a cease and desist order against the project, but it was never executed.
"This park was built on private land. This is a grave case of the City breaking its own planning and construction codes instead of enforcing them," said the petition.
