The High Court of Justice on Monday issued a show-cause order in the case of the residents of the Arab village of Na’alin against the Modi’in Illit Park.

The residents of the PA village filed a petition in the High Court of Justice against Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the Civil Administration, Central District Commander Major-General Avi Mizrachi, the Modi’in Illit Municipality and the commander of the Shai (Shomron-Yehuda) district of Israel Police. They are demanding the authorities implement the demolition order issued against the park.

The park encompasses 22 dunams (5.5 acres) was constructed on private Arab land. The IDF’s Civil Administration halted construction in 2006, and the park remains incomplete but nonetheless is serves the community and it represents a significant portion of the city’s limited green areas. The petitioners, the land owners, now accuse the Civil Administration of foot dragging, prompting them to turn to the court. They insist that the park be removed.

The court has ordered the parties to respond within 60 days. In its ruling, the court cites that official government agencies exceeded their authority and exceeded the land boundary demarcations in the area, extending into privately owned property without obtaining their permission to do so.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)