22nd July 2015
For immediate release:
REGAVIM URGES THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT & EU TO REFRAIN FROM UNDERMINING
ISRAEL’S HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
http://regavim.org/pruseuhcojil/

Regavim, a legal advocacy organization in Israel, strongly urges the US
State Department and the EU to refrain from meddling in Israel’s
well-respected legal system.

Regavim responded today to the US State Department’s ill informed press
statement from July 16th on “Susiya” as well as the European Council
statement from July 20th. This substantial and inappropriate meddling by the
US State Department and the EU in undermining the workings of the legal
system of Israel is a blatant and misguided attempt to usurp the authority
and power of Israel’s courts and internationally recognised legal system.

The State Department and EU were apparently misinformed about basic facts of
the case. They have been misled to believe that an old Arab village called
Susiya existed. This was first asserted by the Nawajah family, Arab herders,
in the mid 1990’s; however Israel’s High Court (HC rulings 7530/01, 430/12,
1556/12, 1420/14) found that these assertions were demonstrably false, based
on comprehensive objective historical and geographical accounts. Historical
aerial photography, detailed mandatory maps, travelogues from the 18th and
19th centuries, and the population registry all established that their
assertions were a fabrication. Fact: no such village ever existed. Those
Arab herders were found to have homes in Yatta (a city in Area A under full
control of the PA) and frequented the area near the ancient Jewish Town of
Susiya only seasonally whilst grazing their flocks.

Additionally, to question the legality of the demolition orders, even though
such orders had been confirmed by the High Court of a sovereign democratic
nation again and again over the protracted litigation process is
unprecedented. The High Court, as recently as their ruling in May 2015,
specifically denied a request for an injunction against the demolition
orders, despite the pending hearing, due to the continued illegal building
by the appellants during the case itself, stating: “Taking the law into one’s
own hands even after filing this petition precludes granting an injunction
order.” (HCJ 1420/14)

“That the US State Department & EU agitate against the decisions of the
Israeli High Court is contrary to all accepted conventions respecting the
rule of law of a sovereign democratic country.” said Ari Briggs. “These ill
informed warnings against Israel have come to be expected from anti-Israel
organizations, not from Israel’s closest ally, the US.” Briggs continued,
“That the EU speaks of rule of law and then has the hypocrisy to define a
High Court ruling to remove illegally built structures as a ?forced transfer
of population? is unbelievable”

Regavim calls on the Government to uphold the rule of law and the equal
application of the law as is expected by any responsible citizen of the
State.”

Regavim, a research based legal advocacy organization, dedicated to ensuring
responsible, legal and accountable use of Israel’s national land. For more
information, visit www.regavim.org. For more information contact Ari Briggs