A day after the High Court of Justice rejected the states request to postpone the evacuation of Israels largest illegal outpost, Likud and National Union MKs were pushing legislation that would circumvent the courts ruling. The state submitted the delay petition earlier this month, seeking to bypass the courts earlier order to dismantle the Migron outpost by March 31 because it was built on privately owned Palestinian land. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambled to find a solution that would satisfy both the settlers and the court. Earlier this month, the state asked the court to let Migrons settlers stay put until new homes were built for them at an alternative location on a nearby hilltop by November 2015. On Sunday, the court ruled that accepting the states compromise would be tantamount to flouting the rule of law. I am determined to launch, in the coming days, a legislative double initiative aimed at preventing the dismantling of Migron and replacing the High Court justices, Likud MK Yariv Levin told Army Radio on Monday. I expect the entire coalition to support Zionism and put an end to this attempt by a handful of judges to run the country in the place of the elected government, Levin added. Netanyahu, however, declared that there was no need for legislation to circumvent the High Court of Justice and expressed his aim to reach a resolution that would not contradict the courts ruling. The courts ruling came as a bit of a shock to both settlers and left-wing NGO Peace Now, which initiated the petition to compel the evacuation of Migron on the grounds that the outpost had been built on privately owned Palestinian land. The decision was especially surprising in light of the fact that the bench is currently headed by newly appointed Chief Justice Asher Grunis, whose appointment was pushed for by right-wing legislators, who even passed a law to facilitate his appointment. The conservative justice was seen as sympathetic to the Right. Left-wing MKs also reacted to the decision, with Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-On telling Army Radio Monday that the settlers and the government essentially asked the court to legitimize land theft. How could it be that a group that holds no proprietary rights to the land, after the High Court of Justice ruled that the outpost must be evacuated by the end of March, enjoys the support of the state which, even now, is seeking to overturn the courts final decision- Gal-On asked. Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich welcomed the courts courageous ruling, saying that in a state rife with loaded controversial issues, the rule of law and the enforcement of the courts decisions must be our guiding light. The governments prolonged and confused handling of the illegal outposts has inevitably led to this clear, incisive and binding decision by the High Court. The Migron residents disputed the grounds on which the court based its decision privately owned Palestinian land with one resident saying this is a difficult ruling, stemming from a false private land myth that will result in the expulsion of peace-seeking people. We are convinced that the government of Israel will find an appropriate solution to this situation that has arisen, in which a government sends its loyal constituents to settle and then expels them with a court order, the Migron resident added. Leveling accusations against the High Court, settler leader Benny Katzover said that the Supreme Court justices apparently want to see Jewish blood being spilled. Unfortunately, it was proven once again that the High Court of Justice represents the views of the extreme Left in Israel, Katzover added. In light of this sad reality, it is now the prime ministers responsibility to launch an expedited legislative effort to legalize Migron and the rest of the outposts. Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein also criticized the courts decision, calling it an unprecedented travesty. The High Court of Justice just confirmed the claim that its justices reside in an ivory tower, disconnected from the people. Their ruling plays into the hands of extremists, and instead of praising the compromise that was reached they decided to side with the Palestinian claim of ownership over the land an incredible claim that has never been proven, he said.
Rightists seek to circumvent High Courts Migron ruling
Likud MK Yariv Levin vows to launch a legislative double initiative to prevent the evacuation of the illegal outpost of Migron and to replace the High Court justices who ruled in favor of the evacuation.
Load more...