Last update - 00:00 30/05/2007
State Prosecutor slams rights groups for signing Hamas court petition
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
The State Prosecutor's Office harshly criticized the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and the Adalah organization on Wednesday, for signing a petition to the High Court of Justice filed by Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament, protesting the cancellation of their permanent residency status in East Jerusalem.
Officials from the prosecutor's office wrote to the court that "the association and Adalah live in peace with the fact that a Hamas prime minister, parliamentary minister or member of parliament can issue orders to launch Qassam rockets at Sderot, order against the release [abducted Israeli soldier] Gilad Shalit, and kill Israeli citizens in accordance with the Hamas charter, and at the same time have permanent residency in Israel, and enjoy National Insurance benefits and complete freedom of movement in the country."
Attorneys Gilad Sherman and Yochi Gensin of the State Prosecutor's Office further criticized the organizations, saying that "the approach of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Adalah is absurd, lacking legal or ethical basis, and contradictory to the elements and ideas of civil rights and freedoms."
The attorneys also maintained that the organizations' support for the Hamas court petition would harm the public safety and faith in the government and enforcement of law.
Two weeks ago, both organizations participated in a hearing at the High Court of Justice, where Hamas parliament members petitioned the court in protest of Interior Minister Roni Bar-On's decision to revoke their permanent residency status.