Jerusalem, 21 July 2002
Announcement from Attorney-General's Office
(Communicated by the Justice Ministry Spokesman)
Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein last Friday, July 19, 2002, held
a three-hour discussion in his office on the steps the security
establishment has requested to take against the families of
suicide-terrorists and those who dispatch them. State Prosecutor Edna
Arbel, IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.-Gen. Menachem Finkelstein,
and senior Justice Ministry, ISA, IDF and Foreign Ministry officials
attended the meeting.
Two main issues were discussed - the demolition of the homes of
suicide-terrorists and those who dispatch them and the moving of
family members of suicide-terrorists and those who dispatch them from
Judea and Samaria to Gaza. All those present made it clear that these
steps are likely to be influential vis-a-vis the prevention of
suicide-attacks.
Atty.-Gen. Rubinstein mentioned the considerable difficulty in
rendering decisions on such complex issues with the position of the
security establishment on the one hand and legal restrictions, High
Court of Justice rulings and international treaties on the other.
The demolition of homes was approved as long as the necessary legal
conditions are met.
Regarding the moving of the family members of suicide-bombers from
Judea and Samaria to Gaza, Atty.-Gen. Rubinstein determined that - in
accordance with legal opinions that he has received from various
security officials - the issue gives rise to many legal difficulties,
which he has documented in an opinion passed on to Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon and persons relevant to the subject. Given the
difficulties which are apparent to us, the matter may be considered
vis-a-vis persons directly involved; however, there is no tangible
possibility of applying it in regard to those against whom there is
no evidence of their involvement.