Israel's Supreme Court orders demolition of largest West Bank settlement

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the state to dismantle the largest illegal settlement in the West Bank by April 2012, Haaretz newspaper reported.

Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch harshly criticized the Israeli government for failing to dismantle the outpost despite earlier promises it would do so. Israel had previously admitted that the outpost of Migron, which is home to some 50 families, was built on Palestinian land.

Beinisch said the Supreme Court has tried to show restraint despite the blatant illegality of the outpost. “There is no doubt, that according to Israeli law, no settlements can be built on private lands of Palestinians,” Beinisch added.

The Supreme Court justices recognized in the court ruling the difficulties surrounding the dismantling of the settlement, but said this could have been avoided if the state had prevented the construction of Migron in the first place.

The decision follows a petition filed by the Israeli Peace Now movement, which promotes Israeli-Palestinian peace. This is the first time the Supreme Court issues an order to dismantle an outpost in the West Bank.

In other news, 12 Israeli settlers suspected of violence against Palestinians were served with administrative restraining orders, limiting their activities in the West Bank. They were accused of igniting a number of mosques, vehicles and buildings that belong to Palestinians, according to a statement from Israel’s military.

The construction of Israeli settlements in the disputed West bank area has been often condemned by the international community. Palestine demanded a stop to settlement construction in the East Jerusalem and West Bank area as a key element for continuing peace talks, aimed at reaching a two-state solution based in the 1967 Green Line.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since late September following Israel’s refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity.

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Source: WireUpdate.
Link: http://wireupdate.com/wires/19224/israels-supreme-court-orders-demolition-of-largest-west-bank-settlement/.