Court: Why won't state combat illegal Palestinian construction?
By Tomer Zarchin and Chaim Levinson, Haaretz Correspondents Last update -
19:25 03/09/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1112231.html

The High Court asked state prosecutors why the state discriminates between
illegal Jewish and Palestinian building in the West Bank, citing the lack of
enforcement of demolition warrants against illegally-built Palestinian
buildings in the area.

The High Court hearing on Thursday came after the right-wing "Regavim
movement for the protection of national land", called for the court to force
Defense Minister Ehud Barak to explain why he hasn't carried out the
demolition of illegal buildings in the Palestinian villages of Asaviya and
Yitma in the West Bank, which are located next to the settlement of Rahalim.

The state said in response to the petition that since 1996, demolition
orders were given against 50 buildings in Asaviya, but only 3 have been
carried out.

In the discussion, a justice asked if the enforcement of demolition orders
for illegal building by Palestinians is treated equally to demolition orders
for illegal building by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. A state prosecutor
said that there is a difference in understanding in the Israeli and
Palestinian sector.

The same prosecutor said that civilian authorities had ruled that
enforcement is different for illegal construction carried out on private
property owned by someone other than the builder.

When a justice asked why only 3 demolition warrants had been issued since
1996, she was told that there is only so much manpower to carry out the
demolitions and there are more pressing national concerns.

Regavim issued a statement on Thursday saying "finally the High Court
understands that it is impossible to enact selective enforcement against
Jews only in the West Bank."