Supreme Court upholds demolition of terrorists’ homes
Families of two attackers who killed 5 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv on same day have a week to evacuate houses in Hebron area
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The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by the families of two Palestinian terrorists against the demolition of their homes by Israel.
One of the houses belongs to the family of Mohammed Abdel Basset al-Kharoub, who killed Rabbi Yaakov Don, Ezra Schwartz and Shadi Arafa and injured seven others in a November 19, 2015, shooting attack at the Gush Etzion Junction. The other belongs to the family of Raed Khalil, who killed Aharon Yisayev and Reuven Aviram in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv on the same day. Both houses are in the Hebron area of the West Bank.
The Supreme Court ruled that the interim injunctions to halt the demolitions will expire on February 22, which will provide the families with enough time to prepare for their evacuation.
Security forces claim that the practice of house demolitions has the potential to deter possible attackers. The court agreed Monday, saying that “the ability to prevent future bloodshed requires us to harden our hearts and spare potential victims, more so than pitying the house occupants.”
The court’s decision comes amid recent calls by the European Union for Israel to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing. Foreign ministers from 28 EU nations had confirmed “the EU’s firm opposition to Israel’s settlement policy” and criticized the actions, including demolitions, confiscation and forced transfers.
While the petitioners opposed the house demolitions on the grounds that it unfairly punishes the families living there, the court stated that the price is justified if even one life can be saved.
The Times of Israel Community.