Israel Matzav

The Judea and Samaria double standard

A parody ad in Israeli newspapers calls attention to the double standard on building construction in Judea and Samaria.

The Regavim organization has published fake want-ads in newspapers drawing attention to unauthorized Arab construction in Judea and Samaria. The ads read: "Security guards are needed to enforce court decisions on illegal construction in Judea and Samaria." Upon calling the phone number listed in the ad, a voice-mail recording announces:

"Shalom and thank you for calling. In Judea and Samaria there are now over 30,000 illegal Arab houses. You heard it right, 30,000. Recently, for example, the Court ordered the Civil Administration to handle the illegal building of a mosque in the village of Burin. But due to security problems, inspectors were not be sent to enforce the law. In the case of a petition against a synagogue, the courts ordered the building sealed immediately."

The Regavim organization claims that the Civil Administration is selectively enforcing the law by taking action against Jewish buildings without proper zoning permits and ignoring Arab buildings. Unlike in the rest of Israel, all buildings in Judea and Samaria must be approved by the Defense Ministry.

One shudders to think how much we are wasting in resources fighting 'illegal' Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria at a time when our defense expenditures are likely to rise to cope with a newly 'democratic' Egypt.

Labels: IDF Civil Administration, Judea and Samaria construction, Regavim, Supreme Court

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:19 AM