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Press Release

Through a rejection submitted to the Israeli High Court,

PCHR halted the construction of a new settlement access road

south of Deir El-Balah

Ref: 20/2001

Date: April 24, 2000

 In the first such precedent since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada, when Israeli forces began razing large areas of Palestinian agricultural land, PCHR was able to halt the construction of a new settlement access road south of Deir El-Belah.  In its case before the Israeli High Court, PCHR received a commitment by the Israeli state prosecution to cease the leveling of land and the establishment the road.

 PCHR authorized lawyer Na’ela ‘Atteya to submit the rejection to the Israeli High Court, in order to stop the land leveling and the establishment of a new road 50m wide and more than 1,000m long, on lands owned by the Abu Houli family.  PCHR through its authorized attorney, submitted the rejection after the Israeli occupation forces legal advisor did not respond to PCHR’s demand on April 16, 2000 that Israeli forces cease these activities in 24 hours.

 On Monday, April 23, 2000, in its response to the rejection submitted to the Israeli High Court on April 19, 2000, the Israeli state prosecution undertook to halt land leveling and the establishment of the new road.  It also undertook to inform the parties in advance concerning the resumption of the land leveling and road construction, provided that the High Court confirms that the case has legal bases.  The High Court is planning to hold a session today in order to ratify the state prosecution’s pledge.  In the meantime, PCHR has learned that Israeli bulldozers have halted work on the road.

 PCHR submitted two rejections to the High Court, regarding land leveling in Al-Moghraqa area, near Netzarim settlement, south of Gaza City.  The Court has not appointed a session to address the first and has not taken a temporary decision to stop land leveling in response to the second rejection.  PCHR continues its legal efforts to stop land leveling by the Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.