Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 29, 2009 Kislev 12, 5770 | | Israel Time: 01:13 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Settlers petition to tear down nearby Palestinian stadium
By Amira Hass

A West Bank settlement has filed a petition to the High Court of Justice demanding the demolition of a nearly-complete stadium in the Palestinian city of El Bireh, near Ramallah.

The Psagot settlement and the Regavim advocacy group petitioned the court on November 2 to order the defense minister, GOC Central Command, the IDF's Civil Administration and police to tear down the El Bireh stadium and three apartment buildings being constructed near the settlement. The court ordered the respondents to answer within 30 days.
Advertisement

The petitioners warned of the possibility that "10,000 inflamed Palestinians would rise up after a soccer game and vent their anger and/or frustration and/or frenzy on nearby Psagot. Suffice it for each one to throw 10 stones at the settlement for Psagot to be under an attack of 100,000 ballista balls."

As Haaretz reported last week, on November 1 the Civil Administration issued a final order to halt construction of the stadium, financed by FIFA - world soccer's governing body, the El Bireh municipality, Germany and France.

The stadium is in El Bireh's municipal area approved by the Israel Defense Forces in 1981, but located in Area C - defined as under total Israeli control. An Israeli contractor who built the field and fake grass field told Haaretz that the bleacher plans were at least two years old and the IDF authorities were well aware of them.

Asked why the orders to halt construction were issued after the construction was almost completed, the Civil Administration did not respond.

The petitioners, who visited the site to photograph and document the construction over the summer, reported "colossal law violations" several times in letters to the Civil Administration, the petition says.

On October 15 they were told that orders to stop the construction had been issued. The final order was issued when the petition was filed.

Regavim calls itself an "a-political movement dedicated to preserve state lands and national land resources."

Claiming that the construction was unlicensed, the petitioners accused the law enforcement authorities in the West Bank of doing nothing to stop the "impertinent, provocative law infraction."

The petitioners say Civil Administration officials told them "off the record" that their superiors have no desire, motivation or ability to enforce the law and stop the project.
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Hezbollah heads divided
Militants slam civilian leaders amid fears of IDF attack.
Israel-Iran war?
Israel must prepare for the chance that if it strikes Iran, not all of the pilots will return.
Special Offers
Advertisement
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Award-Winning 'Obsession'
Watch 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' Online FOR FREE!
Protea Hills
A Retirement Village in Nature Nestled in the Foothills of Jerusalem
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
00:00 Likudniks blast 'enemy of the Jews' Obama over settlement freeze
00:21 2,000 protest Haredi religious coercion in Jerusalem
21:21 Top Iran lawmaker: We could leave the NPT
21:43 Shalit deal / What would Israel do if Iran captured an IAF pilot?
16:30 Report: Security beefed up at Gaza-Egypt border ahead of Shalit transfer
21:23 Hezbollah leadership split amid fears of fresh IDF attack
15:07 IN PICTURES / Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha
00:24 TV ROUND-UP: Israel: Peace talks may lead to settlement evacuation; Grant's first Portsmouth match
21:27 Tourism Min. pledges to keep developing West Bank sites, despite freeze
17:56 Security officer for IDF General Staff suspected of attempted rape
22:27 Shas to fight bill that would help find women draft dodgers
12:12 Hugo Chavez: Israel plans to 'terminate the Palestinian people'
11:21 Muslim pilgrim dies of swine flu during annual haj
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved