Netanyahu said to unilaterally delay home razings in East Jerusalem

Prime minister temporarily called off demolitions over security fears, but didn’t get okay from attorney general, according to report

By Dov Lieber 3 March 2016, 11:10 am

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Dov Lieber is a former Times of Israel Arab affairs correspondent.

Illustration. Israeli security forces stand guard during the demolition of a family home built without a permit in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Al-Tur on April 24, 2013. (Sliman Khader/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office delayed the demolitions of illegally built homes in East Jerusalem without seeking a necessary okay for the move, according to a Thursday morning report.

The Prime Minister’s Office reportedly pushed off the East Jerusalem home demolitions out of security concerns, according to Army Radio.

However, the PMO failed to get necessary approval from Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. According to the report, the homes are still set to be demolished at a later date, but the delay was not authorized.

Carrying out home demolitions in certain Arab neighborhoods of the capital requires a large mobilization of security forces and sometimes sparks rioting in the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) confers with Avichai Mandelblit, then still cabinet secretary, during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on December 20, 2015 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The PMO denied the delay, writing in response that “there were was no delay [in the demolishing] of any home built illegally.”

“All homes authorized for demolition were destroyed. The issue is an administrative clause from 2009 that mentions informing the Attorney General if there might be a delay for any reason,” the PMO told Army Radio.

The report came as the government appeared to move closer to a deal to halt home demolitions in Arab towns and neighborhoods.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri on Wednesday agreed to a proposal put forward by the Joint List faction for a temporary stop in home demolitions of illegally built homes.

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri shakes hands with Joint Arab list head Ayman Odeh during the swearing-in ceremony for the 20th Knesset, March 31, 2015. (Photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90) — Shas party leader Aryeh Deri shakes hands with Joint Arab list head Ayman Odeh during the swearing-in ceremony for the 20th Knesset, March 31, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Joint List head Ayman Odeh submitted a written proposal to Deri on Monday calling for the cessation of demolitions of Arab homes for a period of a year and a half. This period is meant to allow for the legalization of houses built without permits and for proper planning.

The interior minister met with the leaders of Arab municipalities on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of the plan.

Housing Minister Yoav Galant also agreed to Odeh’s proposal to halt demolitions, a press release from the Joint List stated.

The proposal still needs to be officially adopted by the government before it can be implemented.

“The demolition of homes is one of the most difficult and painful problems in the Arab community,” Odeh said in a statement. “The government that does not allow outlined plans and regulated building in practice pushes the citizens to break the law in order to fulfill their basic right for shelter.”