Ra'am Party Petitions High Court to Halt Demolitions Until New Government Forms
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Ra'am party chairman Mansour Abbas petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice to halt demolition orders until a new government is formed, targeting actions by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The party requested demolition authority be transferred to the Attorney General during the election period, arguing Ben-Gvir is politically exploiting enforcement. Ben-Gvir countered that demolitions occur year-round, while Ra'am's move is also seen as a political play to fulfill campaign promises.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ra'am party chairman Mansour Abbas petitioned Israel's High Court to halt demolition orders until a new government is formed.
- The petition targets demolitions of residential structures on public lands, carried out by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
- Ra'am requested demolition authority be transferred to the Attorney General during the election period.
- The party claims Ben-Gvir is politically exploiting enforcement tools for electoral gain.
- Minister Ben-Gvir stated demolitions occur year-round and are not politically motivated.
- Abbas's petition is also viewed as a political move to fulfill Ra'am's campaign promise to stop demolitions.
Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, has petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice (Bagatz) to halt the execution of demolition orders, arguing that such actions should be postponed until a new government is established. The petition specifically targets demolition and eviction orders concerning "public lands" occupied by residential structures, as carried out by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Abbas and Ra'am requested that the authority for demolitions, at least during the election period, be transferred to the Attorney General. Their petition stated that the Attorney General should set a policy requiring her approval for any demolition or eviction of occupied public lands during this time. Ra'am argues that the "illegality" of many structures is temporary and subject to government decisions, and that demolitions during an election period predetermine outcomes the next government might decide differently.
Ra'am's central claim is that Minister Ben-Gvir is politically exploiting enforcement tools to boost his chances in the upcoming elections. Responding to this, Ben-Gvir stated that demolitions are carried out year-round by various authorities, including the Israel Land Authority and the police, and that "anyone who builds illegally will have their house demolished."
The article notes that while Abbas accuses Ben-Gvir of political maneuvering, Abbas's own attempt to prevent demolitions before the elections is also seen as a political move. A significant part of Ra'am's campaign platform includes a promise to their constituents to stop house demolitions once they attain positions of power, and Abbas is seeking to achieve a success in this area even before the elections.
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