Last update - 00:00 08/08/2007
Rights group petitions court over E. J'lem police roadblocks
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel petitioned the High Court of Justice on Wednesday over what it claims are illegal police roadblocks set up primarily in the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
According to the petition, local residents arriving at these roadblocks were commanded to pay debts, immediately and in cash, incurred by them or their family members to the Israel Tax Authority and the National Insurance Institute (NII).
The petition claims that police routinely threatened local residents that their vehicles would be impounded should they refuse to comply.
The Palestinian residents were not given the option to dispute these demands, despite the fact that in several cases it emerged that residents had been wrongfully forced to pay debts.
The petitioners maintain that the authorities are thus implementing "methods of operation traditionally used by criminals on the black market."
The civil rights group petitioned the court in the name of four East Jerusalem residents, seeking action against the Israel Tax Authority, the NII and the police. The petition maintains these organizations infringed upon the rights of the four residents by illegally demanding payment.
The petition was also filed on behalf of three Palestinian organizations active in East Jerusalem.
The petitioners demanded that the police stop using roadblocks as a method of debt collection. According to petitioners, the police have been using these roadblocks as "muscle for hire" on behalf of the Israel Tax Authority and NII, and that the police accepted payment for these services.