The Civil Administration has informed Modi’in Illit Mayor R’ Yaakov Gutterman that he is being stripped of his authority as head of the city’s engineering division, citing the nonfeasance of the department as the cause leading to the decision. The notification comes shortly after Israel Police announced moving ahead with a recommendation that the mayor face criminal charges for his law-breaking. Degel HaTorah officials are preparing for the worst and have already begun the search for his successor.

Civil Administration officials last Thursday informed Gutterman that the authority for overseeing the engineering department in Modi’in Illit will remain with the Civil Administration, citing in the past the mayor seems to have preferred turning a blind eye to violation rather than address them. Officials explain they are not basing their allegations on hearsay, but on aerial photographs that document an alarming rise in building violations in the community.

City Hall officials are expected to meet with representatives of the Civil Administration in the coming days to pass the authority back to the latter.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)