Jerusalem, 8 March 2000
High Court: Decision on Katzir
(Communicated by Court's Spokeswoman)
The High Court of Justice today (Wednesday) 8.3.2000 ruled in the Katzir
case. Following is the case summary:
Petitioners are an Arab couple who live in an Arab settlement. They
seek to build a home in Katzir, a communal settlement in the Eron River
region. This settlement was established in 1982 by the Jewish Agency in
collaboration with the Katzir Cooperative Society, on State land that
was allocated to the Jewish Agency (via the Israel Land Authority) for
such a purpose. The Katzir Cooperative Society only accepts Jewish
members. As such, it refuses to accept the Petitioners and permit them
to build their home in the communal settlement of Katzir. The
Petitioners claim that the policy constitutes discrimination on the
basis of religion or nationality an that such discrimination is
prohibited by law with regard to State land.
The Court examined the question of whether the refusal to allow the
petitioners to build their home in Kaztir constituted impermissible
discrimination. The Court's examination proceeded in two stages.
First, the Court examined whether the State may allocate land directly
to its citizens on the basis of religion or nationality. The answer is
no. As a general rule, the principle of equality prohibits the State
from distinguishing between its citizens on the basis of religion or
nationality. The principle also applies to the allocation of State
land. This conclusion is derived both from the values of Israel as a
Democratic state and from the values of Israel as a Jewish state. The
Jewish character of the State does not permit Israel to discriminate
between its citizens. In Israel, Jews and non-Jews are citizens with
equal rights and responsibilities. The State engages in impermissible
discrimination even it if is also willing to allocate State land for the
purpose of establishing an exclusively Arab settlement, as long as it
permits a group of Jews, without distinguishing characteristics to
establish an exclusively Jewish settlement on State land ("separate is
inherently unequal").
Next, the Court examined whether the State may allocate land to the
Jewish Agency knowing that the Agency will only permit Jews to use the
land. The answer is no. Where one may not discriminate directly, one
may not discriminate indirectly. If the State, through its own actions,
may not discriminate on the basis of religion or nationality, it may not
facilitate such discrimination by a third party. It does not change
matters that the third party is the Jewish Agency. Even if the Jewish
Agency may distinguish between Jews and non-Jews, it may not do so in
the allocation of State land.
The Court limited its decision to the particular facts of this case.
The general issue of use of State lands for the purposes of settlement
raises a wide range of questions. First, as the petitioners themselves
agreed, this case is not directed at past allocations of State land.
This petition looks to the future. Second, this petition focuses on the
particular circumstances of the communal settlement of Katzir. In
discussing this issue, the Court stated:
"Naturally, there are different types of settlements, for example,
kibbutzim and moshavim. Different types of settlements give rise to
different problems. We did not hear arguments regarding other types of
settlements and therefore, we do not take a position with regard to
these types of settlements. Moreover, we must consider the possibility
that special circumstances, beyond the type of settlement, may be
relevant. We did not hear arguments with regard to such special
circumstances, and therefore we do not take a position with regard to
their significance. Moreover, it is important to understand and
remember that today we are taking the first step in a sensitive and
difficult journey. It is wise to proceed slowly, so that we do not
stumble and fall, and instead we will proceed cautiously at every stage,
according to the circumstances of each case."
With regard to the relief requested by the petitioners, the Court noted
various social legal difficulties. In light of these difficulties, the
Court rendered the following judgement:
A. "We hold that the State of Israel was not permitted, by law, to
allocate State land to the Jewish Agency for the purpose of establishing
the communal settlement of Katzir on the basis of discrimination between
Jews and non-Jews.
B. The State of Israel mist consider the petitioners' request to
acquire land for themselves in the settlement of Katzir for the purpose
of building their home. The State must make this consideration based on
the principle of equality, and considering various other relevant
factors - including those factors affecting the Jewish Agency and the
current residents of Katzir. The State of Israel must also consider the
numerous legal issues. Based on these considerations, the State of
Israel must determine with deliberate speed whether to allow the
petitioners to make a home within the communal settlement of Katzir."
President Aharon Barak filed an opinion in which Justices T. Or and I.
Zamir joined. Justice M. Cheshin concurred in the judgement and filed
an opinion. Justice Y. Kedmi dissented in the judgement and filed an
opinion.