The Big Bluff: Discrimination in application of the law - Regavim

by Regavim

-- there is a serious ongoing situation in Judea and Samaria in the field of law enforcement, and that ‘every man does what is correct in his own eyes,’

Introduction

In recent months the issue of the absence of law enforcement in Judea and Samaria has appeared once more on the public agenda. The state comptroller, retired Judge Yosef Shapira, even devoted a special chapter in the last State Comptroller’s Report[1] to law enforcement in Judea and Samaria, and described the situation as an “across the board failure”. The comptroller says in his summary:

“The significance of the data appearing in the report is that there is a serious ongoing situation in Judea and Samaria in the field of law enforcement, and that ‘every man does what is correct in his own eyes,’ principally in the area of planning, construction, water and sanitation.”

These harsh words used by the state comptroller to describe the ineffectuality of the enforcement authorities in Judea and Samaria resonate even more loudly in the report that you are now reading, which presents in dry figures the levels of enforcement of the Inspection Unit of the Civil Administration in 2010-2012.[2]

The scanty data regarding demolitions that were carried out by the Civil Administration among the Arab population living in Area C, which is totally under Israeli control, is dwarfed by tens of thousands of illegal Palestinian structures that have been built without any interference from law enforcement. The Civil Administration deals with illegal Palestinian construction by closing its eyes and dragging its feet, while at the same time performing statistical acrobatics that are meant to give the impression of a functioning law enforcement system.

On the other hand, regarding the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, the law enforcement authorities act vigorously and effectively, again, unlike in the case of illegal construction in the Arab sector.

When the enforcement authorities do not do their job, this is not only an improper situation where “every man does what is right in his eyes.” When these systems dole out unfair treatment, it is discrimination. When they try to hide this by statistical acrobatics, it is also deceitful.

[1] State Comptroller’s Report 63b. Judea and Samaria Region Chapter

[2] As a continuation of “The Big Bluff I”, published by Regavim, August 2011

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Regavim

Source: http://regavim.org/the-big-bluff-v2/

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