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Palestinians protesting against the construction of the separation fence near the West Bank village of Bil'in (Tess Scheflan / Jini)
Last update - 07:08 04/08/2008
Court slams state for ignoring order to change West Bank fence route
By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: High Court of Justice 

The High Court of Justice has given the state 45 days to submit a new route for part of the separation fence that runs through lands belonging to Bil'in villagers. Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch and Justices Eliezer Rivlin and Ayala Procaccia criticized the state on Sunday for ignoring the court's ruling in the matter a year ago.

A petition was filed in 2005 against the route, which is intended to encompass Modi'in Ilit from the east. In September, 2007 the High Court of Justice ruled that the route in the Bil'in area is illegal, and ordered the state to devise, within a reasonable time, an alternative route that would be less detrimental. The court also instructed the state to plan the route so that it runs through state land, not privately owned Palestinian property.

The villagers wrote to the court two months ago, saying that the state has still not presented an alternative, and that work is being done on the ground that jeopardizes implementation of the order.
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At the hearing on Sunday, the state argued that the court had ordered it merely to consider altering the route, exigencies permitting.

An angry Beinisch told the state's representative Avi Licht: "We rule that this route cannot remain as is, and we determine what will and will not be in the new route."

Licht responded: "This matter was clear, and was taken all the way to the defense minister." To which Beinisch replied: "He may have been mistaken." Licht then asked: "In other words, we did not comply with the verdict?" To which Beinisch replied: "Yes."

Attorney Michael Sfard, who represents the villagers, welcomed the court's decision on Sunday, but was less than optimistic about the outcome. "The High Court has to date rejected four routes of the fence that was already built, but to this day the government of Israel has not complied with a single verdict."

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      1.   At least it is admitted... 03:16  |  Silvienne 04/08/08
      2.   Why is the high court involved? This is a security issue! 03:42  |  Great White North 04/08/08
      3.   Court vs Government 03:53  |  Brod 04/08/08
      4.   Clearly the rule of law means little in Israel... 04:22  |  BBSNews 04/08/08
      5.   High Court Overstepping Jurisdiction 04:27  |  Bender Dondat 04/08/08
      6.   Changing the Policy 05:32  |  John Isenhower 04/08/08
      7.   Israeli democracy under threat 07:39  |  MarkC 04/08/08
      8.   Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly 08:05  |  English Resident 04/08/08
      9.   Court shmort 08:21  |  Motke 04/08/08
      10.   the "righteousness" of israel and the IDF? 08:49  |  eric 04/08/08
      11.   Great White North - Even in Canada 09:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 04/08/08
      12.   BBS AGAIN KNOWS NO LAW WHATSOEVER 09:33  |  victor hardman 04/08/08
      13.   Brod - Courts are Part of Government 09:35  |  Mark of Lewiston 04/08/08
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      15.   ISRAEL DOESN`T GIVE A D-MN ABOUT ANYTHING 09:52  |  indrajaya 04/08/08
      16.   Low Court. 09:57  |  Paul 04/08/08
      17.   Rule of Settlers vs Rule of Law 10:03  |  Ivar 04/08/08
      18.   #12 the art of hypocrisy as exercised by boris the clucking fool 10:09  |  victor hardman 04/08/08
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      22.   #10 I need to point this out to you, Mark of Lewiston 10:46  |  Johnboy 04/08/08
      23.   Paul in LA on `Jewish wisdom` 11:01  |  Sylvie 04/08/08
      24.   #20 tova the bad and ignorance of law is no excuse 11:23  |  victor hardman 04/08/08
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      29.   #7 Democracy under threat... 16:47  |  Elihu 04/08/08
      30.   Johnboy # 22 The IHCJ (part 1) 17:30  |  Jeff Northridge 04/08/08
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      35.   Hey Brod, do you have a point?? 19:08  |  Silvienne 04/08/08
      36.   #20, Chanalau, Tova...you`ve got that right! 19:15  |  Silvienne 04/08/08
      37.   #33 x-ray has blurred vision 19:23  |  Labhras 04/08/08
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      39.   #8 English Resident 20:03  |  JIm 04/08/08
      40.   #9 Motke 20:16  |  Jim 04/08/08
      41.   #9 Motke 20:16  |  Jim 04/08/08
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      43.   #40, Jim... 20:37  |  Silvienne 04/08/08
      44.   israel and settlers..lebanon and hezbollah.. 20:46  |  fadi 04/08/08
      45.   #42 Levi 22:11  |  Jim 04/08/08
      46.   #42, Levi...have you never heard of a public forum? 22:11  |  Silvienne 04/08/08
      47.   why do you continue to slander me, ben jabo 22:41  |  eric 04/08/08
      48.   22 Israeli Law recognizes International Treaties 22:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 04/08/08
      49.   #36 silvienne shows omnipotence on EVERY WESTERN DEMOCRACY 23:03  |  victor hardman 04/08/08
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      51.   #49, victor hardman... 00:38  |  Silvienne 05/08/08
      52.   Johnboy # 22 Expropriation (4th Try) 00:50  |  Jeff Northridge 05/08/08
      53.   #30 It said much more than that, Jeff. 01:12  |  Johnboy 05/08/08
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      58.   #54 Where JG goes wrong 06:32  |  Johnboy 05/08/08
      59.   JG #54, obviously you`re not an intellect 07:03  |  Palestinian Prince 05/08/08
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