Avichai Mendelblit the Israeli government’s attorney general on Monday informed the higher court of justice that he would avoid submitting any recommendation regarding the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in a move that bodes ill for the local residents facing displacement.
Haaretz newspaper quoted officials in Mendelblit’s office as saying that “they believe the families’ case is too weak and that his legal opinion would not be able to prevent their pending eviction.”
A source close to Mendelblit also told Haaretz that the political leadership backs the attorney general’s decision to refrain from making arguments before the court on behalf of the government.
In a statement Mendelblit cited “a multiplicity of legal cases over the years” and “the factual and legal determinations” concerning the Sheikh Jarrah plots as a reason for his decision claiming any arguments made by him in this case are unlikely to change its outcome according to Haaretz.
Last month the higher court ordered Mendelblit to submit a legal opinion on the eviction case that has sparked a wave of protests and has drawn international attention and condemnation.
The court gave Mendelblit until June 8 to submit his legal opinion approving his request to give him extra time in this regard.
“Mendelblit’s latest statement now means the court isn’t expected to wait for any other material before ruling on the case” Haaretz said.
“It directly affects three Sheikh Jarrah families but there are several similar cases pending ruling and any decision by Israel’s top court is likely to affect those [cases] as well potentially paving the way for the eviction of at least dozens of Palestinian families” the Israeli newspaper added.
The rights group Peace Now criticized Mendelblit’s decision in a statement calling it “a cynical attempt to evade responsibility.”
Peace Now called on the Israeli government “to present to the public and to the court its stance as families are thrown out into the street by employing a set of laws that discriminates between Israelis and Palestinians.”
