'Accepted tactic.' Beinish
Photo: Ofer Amram
Court to State: Implement demolition order for Ofra plant
High Court gives State 90 days to declare why it has yet to destroy West Bank purification plant built on Palestinian land. Petitioners' attorney: Criminal cooperation between State, settlers exposed
The High Court of Justice on Sunday leveled harsh criticism at the State during a hearing on a petition against the construction of a sewage purification plant on Palestinian land, not far from the West Bank settlement Ofra.
The petition was filed by the Yesh Din human rights group on behalf of Palestinians from the village of Ein Yabrud.
During the hearing, a representative from the Prosecutor's Office said the State was working to legalizing the installation and hinted that the land on which it was erected may be confiscated despite the fact that it is privately-owned.
Justice Ayala Procaccia wondered whether the "retroactive legitimization of the facility would be up to par with proper management procedures," while Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish said the State regularly employs similar tactics.
"A demolition order (for the plant) is issued, nothing happens and eventually other ways to deal with the problem are sought out. This has become an accepted tactic," she said.
About a year ago the court issued an interim order not to hook the installation up to the electricity grid.
Following Sunday's hearing the court issued another interim order giving the State 90 days to submit a response as to why it has yet to implement the demolition order.
Attorney Michael Sfard, Yesh Din's legal advisor, said after the hearing, "This case has exposed the illicit cooperation between the settlers and the State. Ofra is not above the law and we will not stop until the stolen land is returned to its rightful owners."
