Barak instructs IDF to demolish home of bulldozer terrorist
Jul. 2, 2008 DAN IZENBERG and YAAKOV KATZ , THE JERUSALEM POST
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Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday instructed the IDF to begin the
process of issuing demolition orders against the homes of Ala Abu Dhaim of
Jebl Mukaber - who killed eight religious seminary students in March - and
Husam Taysir Dwayat of Sur Bahir, who killed three Israelis on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz had informed the government that
according to the law, Israel may demolish terrorists' homes within areas of
Israeli sovereignty, but doing so could raise "significant legal problems."

The statement was included in a legal opinion submitted to the government
following consultations between the army and the state attorney's office
earlier in the day on the question of house demolitions.

According to Mazuz, "In view of the rulings of the High Court of Justice
over many years, it cannot be said that there is a legal obstacle to
activating the authority to demolish homes," he said.

"However, such action arouses significant legal difficulties."

Mazuz did not elaborate on what the difficulties were or how they could
exist if there was no legal prohibition regarding house demolitions.

Mazuz added that "the political and security officials must take into
account the various factors that have been listed [in the legal opinion] and
be aware of the dangers they entail."

Furthermore, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) must examine the specific
circumstances of each case in coordination with the Ministry of Justice.

According to the ministry spokesman, the ISA and the Military Advocate
General's Office submitted opinions on the matter to the participants in the
meeting.

Meanwhile, Olmert on Thursday called for more severe punishment of Israeli
citizens involved in terror attacks.

"If we need to demolish houses, we'll demolish houses, and if we need to
revoke benefits, we'll do that," he said, speaking at the Israeli Democracy
Institute's Caesarea conference in Eilat.

Olmert added that he had instructed ministers to initiate necessary
amendments to the law.

"Yesterday's terror attack in Jerusalem was a type we haven't experienced in
the past," he continued.

"It was an attack carried out against Israel from within Israel, by someone
from the Israeli side of the barrier."