Residents of the Arab community of Na’alin, near Modi’in, insist the route of the security fence being constructed by Israel does not comply with the high court’s ruling, but rather mimics the original plan which the court rejected.

Attorney Michael Sfarad, representing the Na’alin residents, stated the fence under construction at present violates the rights of community residents and makes a mockery of the high court’s decision.

Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinish has stated the case will be heard by a three-justice panel in the near future. Beinish also serves as the president of the court, equivalent to America’s chief justice.

In 2007, the court ruled that a 1,700 meter section of the fence must be dismantled and an alternative route be taken. The court rejected the expropriation of Na’alin’s land, accepting the argument of the villagers that the army moved the fence closer to Na’alin to provide neighboring Kiryat Sefer with additional land.

This week, 10 months past the deadline, the court was presented with the alternate route for the perimeter fence. Na’alin Mayor Ahmad Issa Abdullah Yassin stated the amended plan only returns 200 dunam to community residents instead of the 2,000 dunam ordered by the court.

Yassin stated that the amended plan is a mockery and he feels authorities believe the court will not reject the plan second time around in favor of Na’alin farmers and therefore, they are ignoring the court decision.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)