Israel News for November 7, 2016
Jerusalem Arabs Squatting
As the deadline for the implement of the Supreme Court’s order to evacuate the settlement of Amona nears, Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat has sent the Attorney General a unique request. Since the eviction of the Amona residents is based on the court’s ruling that the settlement is built on Palestinian owned land, Barkat is requesting that the AG investigate the passibility of applying the ruling to Arab’s illegally living on Jewish property in East Jerusalem.
Apparently thousands of Arabs currently live on Jewish property abandoned when the Jordanians expelled all Jews from Jerusalem in 1948. Barkat is suggesting that the Arab squatters be evicted from those properties, based on the Supreme Court ruling that is calling for the eviction of the Amona residents.
Barkat said to the AG, “If the judgement of the court is to stand, it is not right for there to be one law for the Jews and another law for the Arabs. So I ask you to hold a hearing to determine the state’s legal position on this matter.”
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EU Recommends Reparations
The European Union committee responsible for relations with North Africa and the Middle East has recommended that member states seek reparations from Israel for buildings destroyed by Israel which were financed by the EU.
The buildings in question are all located in Area C of the West Bank, which is fully administered by Israel and comprises about 60% of the territory, including all Jewish settlements. The buildings demolitions were constructed without the proper permits.
The Foreign Ministry pointed out that according to the Oslo Accords, Israel alone is responsible for civilian issues in Area C, including planning and building. It said, “As is customary in every country of laws, Israel does not allow construction without proper permits. In this case the construction is done without government approval in a non-residential area and therefore Israel executed its authority and demolished the buildings.”
Germany strongly opposed the EU committees decision. The decision is non-binding.
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Missing Soldier
In August of 1997, IDF soldier Guy Hever left his artillery base in the Golan and has not been seen since. The IDF has conducted several searches over the years but no information has ever been found on what happened to Hever. It will conduct a new search this week, focused on the Golan Heights and Jordan Valley, although it claims that the search is not based on any new information obtained.
The IDF released a statement saying, “The State of Israel and the IDF are deeply committed to its missing sons and to those who are in captivity. The IDF will continue to do everything in its power to resolve the case of Guy Hever.”
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No Phone Searches
The IDF will no longer be allowed to search the phones of soldiers without a warrant, even if they have the soldier’s consent. An appellate court overturned the conviction of a soldier that was based on a search of his phone without a warrant.
Each year the military police search over 2,000 phones of soldiers with their consent, which is usually obtained through threats of confiscation of prosecution. The searches are done in a cellphone laboratory and provide access to a vast amount of data, including data the user has erased. This can include personal correspondence, medical documents and even legal advice that might be covered by attorney-client privilege.
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