Slippery Slope

The High Court of Justice approved a construction plan that would legalize illegal construction in the settlement of Talmon in Judea and Samaria.  The Justices stated that since the construction plan is much more comprehensive than the simple legalization of a specific building, there is no call for not approving it.

(Hebrew)

The Ras el-Amud mosque, situated on  Mount of Olives, has been illegally expanded by 217 square meters (about 2,335 square feet) on state-owned land, but the Jerusalem municipality has not yet demolished the buildings.

Settlers attacked police officers charged with demolishing illegal buildings in the Oz Zion outpost near the settlement of Beit-El.

(Hebrew)

In a meeting of the Likud faction, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu answered a question from MK Tzipi Hotovely, about granting permanent to the settlement of Itamar. Mr. Netanyahu said that he would try to assist on this matter.

Deputy director of the Civil Administration’s supervision unit, Rami Ziv, wrote to the residents of the settlement Peduel, where he resides, that government enforcement of building violations on the part of Jewish settlers is largely limited to tin shacks and tents, rather more significant permanent structures.

Hebrew

In the Havat Gilad outpost that was razed last week, the razed structures were rebuilt, and preparations were made for the construction of four additional structures. According to the Palestinian residents of the nearby village of Jit, the lands being prepared for construction by the Jewish settlers is Palestinian-owned.

Hebrew

According to information presented by the State Attorney to the Supreme Court of Justice, only 30% of illegal construction in Jewish settlements has been demolished in the last three years. Of illegal construction in Palestinian settlements in the West Bank, only 13% has been demolished.

Hebrew

Residents of the Ras Al Amud neighborhood in Occupied East Jerusalem reported that bulldozers and municipal inspectors are preparing to demolish illegal residences in the neighborhood. The municipality said that it does not give advance notice of demolitions.

(Hebrew)

Extensive illegal construction has been going on in the settlements since the end of the construction freeze, in late September. The construction is led by Amana, the settlement arm of the Yesha Council. The construction is being done without construction permits, entirely in the open. Despite this fact, the Civil Administration has taken no action. (Hebrew)