Weekly Commentary: Disturbing absence of compensation provisions in
settlement freeze

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 3 December 2009

It could have been different.

It should have been different.

The announcement of the construction freeze in Judea and Samaria could have
already established both the mechanism and formula for compensating Israelis
expected to suffer a financial loss as a result of the freeze.

And this with steps taken so that sufficient funds were already earmarked
from the budget to cover the projected compensations.

But that's not what happened.

Israeli property owners, possessing all the necessary permits to build their
homes, will now face the costs of having the completion of their homes
delayed by ten months.

And the building contractors and others associated with the construction
activity that has been frozen will also face various costs through no fault
of their own.

One might debate if the Government of Israel has the right to impose a
building freeze on private Israeli housing construction in Judea and
Samaria, but the unspoken assertion that such a move might be taken without
the provision of appropriate compensation is something that deserves
condemnation regardless of one's position on the freeze itself.

That's why I, as an Israeli, am embarrassed, disappointed - and yes -
concerned - that my government had no qualms seriously impacting the
property rights of Israeli citizens without making provisions, in advance,
to compensate those harmed by its decision.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il