Court Orders Chabad to Vacate Rehovot Property After 15 Years
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
A district court in Lod has ordered the Chabad of Rehovot HaHolonit association to vacate a public property within 60 days, marking the third consecutive ruling against the Rehovot municipality. The court found the allocation unlawful, citing nearly 15 years of use without proper payment or adherence to procedures. The municipality was also ordered to pay significant legal costs and to determine outstanding payments for the property's use. Residents have been fighting the allocation, which they claim unfairly benefits the ultra-Orthodox community.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Chabad must vacate a Rehovot property within 60 days following a third court ruling against the municipality.
- The court deemed the municipality's allocation of the public property to Chabad unlawful and improperly handled.
- The association used the property for nearly 15 years without paying rent or property taxes.
- Rehovot municipality is ordered to pay NIS 40,000 in legal costs to the residents who petitioned.
- The court criticized the municipality for failing to collect over NIS 1 million in unpaid usage fees.
- Residents have been engaged in a long-standing legal battle against the municipality's allocation practices.
A district court in Lod has ruled for the third time against the Rehovot municipality, ordering the Chabad of Rehovot HaHolonit association to vacate a public property within 60 days. The court found the municipality's allocation of the building, originally intended for public use and converted into a synagogue, to be unlawful. This ruling comes after a protracted legal battle initiated by secular residents who argued the allocation violated proper procedures, ignored court decisions, and allowed the association to use the property for nearly 15 years without paying rent or property taxes.
The court, presided over by Judge Shmuel Bornstein, criticized the municipality's allocation policies, stating that public assets were being directed towards the ultra-Orthodox community at the expense of general public needs and in apparent disregard for the law. The municipality was ordered to decide on payment for the past use of the property and outstanding property taxes within 30 days. Additionally, the court ordered the municipality to pay NIS 40,000 in legal costs to the petitioners and the association to pay NIS 20,000.
The property, located at 4 Har Zion Street, was initially occupied by Chabad in 2012 without a proper allocation process. Despite previous court orders to vacate and rectify the allocation, the municipality repeatedly attempted to find ways to keep Chabad in the building, including manipulating zoning programs. The court dismissed these attempts, noting that the municipality acted improperly and that any allocation must follow established procedures, not informal practices or 'gut feelings'.
Judge Bornstein also sharply criticized the municipality for failing to collect payments from the association for its use of the property over the past decade, estimating the unpaid usage fees alone to exceed NIS 1 million, not including utilities and property taxes. He emphasized that a municipality acts as a public trustee and cannot forgo public income for extended periods without legal justification. The residents' legal representation stated their intention to ensure the municipality complies with the law and the association settles its debts.
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