High Court approves demolition of Palestinian rocket suspect's home, rejects family's appeal

The High Court of Justice unanimously upheld the demolition of a Palestinian man's apartment in Kafr Nima for organizing an attempted rocket attack on Modi'in Illit. The ruling rejected the family's appeal, citing exceptional danger despite no casualties. Justice Ronnen joined 'not without hesitation,' questioning the deterrent value.

The High Court of Justice on Thursday unanimously upheld an order to demolish the West Bank apartment of Abdullah Mahmoud Saud al-Khatib, a Palestinian man accused of organizing an attempted rocket attack on Modi'in Illit. The ruling, by Justices Yael Willner, Yechiel Kasher, and Ruth Ronnen, rejected a petition by Khatib's wife and two children. The order covers only the apartment in Kafr Nima, not the entire building. Willner ruled that the cell's systematic preparations and intention to carry out repeated attacks posed exceptional danger, justifying demolition even though no one was killed or wounded. The family argued collective punishment and that the wife and children were uninvolved. Ronnen joined 'not without hesitation,' questioning the deterrent value of demolishing an uninvolved family's home but finding the circumstances justified the order. The court also accepted an 11-month delay due to wartime demands and policy work.