President A. Barak
The Commander of the IDF Forces in Judea and Samaria
issued orders to take possession of plots of land in the area of Judea
and Samaria. The purpose of the seizure was to erect a Separation Fence
on the land. The question before us is whether the orders and the Fence
are legal.
Background
1. Since 1967, Israel has been holding the areas of
Judea and Samaria [hereinafter - the area] in belligerent occupation.
In 1993 Israel began a political process with the PLO, and signed a
number of agreements transferring control over parts of the area to
the Palestinian Authority. Israel and the PLO continued political negotiations
in an attempt to solve the remaining problems. The negotiations, whose
final stages took place at Camp David in Maryland, USA, failed in July
2000.
From respondents' affidavit in answer to an order nisi
we learned that, a short time after the failure of the Camp David talks,
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reached new heights of violence. In
September 2000, the Palestinian side began a campaign of terror against
Israel and Israelis. Terror attacks take place both in the area and
in Israel. They are directed against citizens and soldiers, men and
women, elderly people and infants, regular citizens and public figures.
Terror attacks are carried out everywhere: in public transportation,
in shopping centers and markets, in coffee houses and in restaurants.
Terror organizations use gunfire attacks, suicide attacks, mortar fire,
Katyusha rocket fire, and car bombs. From September 2000 until the beginning
of April 2004, more than 780 attacks were carried out within Israel.
During the same period, more than 8200 attacks were carried out in the
area.
The armed conflict claimed (as of April 2004) the lives
of 900 Israeli citizens and residents. More than 6000 were injured,
some with serious wounds that have left them severely handicapped. The
armed conflict has left many dead and wounded on the Palestinian side
as well. Bereavement and pain wash over us.
In HCJ 7015/02 Ajuri v. IDF Commander, at 358, I described
the security situation:
Israel's fight is complex. Together with other means,
the Palestinians use guided human bombs. These suicide bombers reach
every place that Israelis can be found (within the boundaries of the
State of Israel and in the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and
the Gaza Strip). They sew destruction and spill blood in the cities
and towns. The forces fighting against Israel are terrorists: they are
not members of a regular army; they do not wear uniforms; they hide
among the civilian Palestinian population in the territories, including
inside holy sites; they are supported by part of the civilian population,
and by their families and relatives.
2. These terror acts have caused Israel to take security
precautions on several levels. The government, for example, decided
to carry out various military operations, such as operation "Defensive
Wall" (March 2002) and operation "Determined Path" (June
2002). The objective of these military actions was to defeat the Palestinian
terrorist infrastructure and to prevent terror attacks. See HCJ 3239/02
Marab v. IDF Commander in the West Bank, at 355; HCJ 3278/02 Center
for Defense of the Individual v. IDF Commander, at 389. These combat
operations - which are not regular police operations, but embody all
the characteristics of armed conflict - did not provide a sufficient
answer to the immediate need to stop the terror. The Ministers' Committee
on National Security considered a list of steps intended to prevent
additional terror acts and to deter potential terrorists from participating
in such acts. See Ajuri, at 359. Despite all these measures, the terror
did not come to an end. The attacks did not cease. Innocent people paid
with both life and limb. This is the background behind the decision
to construct the Separation Fence.
The Decision to Construct the Separation Fence
3. The Ministers' Committee for National Security reached
a decision (on April 14, 2002) regarding deployment in the "Seam
Area" between Israel and the area. [Note to English translation:
the "Seam Area" is roughly the interface between Judea and
Samaria on the one hand, and Israel as per the 1949 armistice agreement
on the other.] See HCJ 8532/02 Ibraheem v. Commander of the IDF Forces
in the West Bank. The purpose behind the decision was "to improve
and strengthen operational capability in the framework of fighting terror,
and to prevent the penetration of terrorists from the area of Judea
and Samaria into Israel." The IDF and the police were given the
task of preventing the passage of Palestinians into the State of Israel.
As a temporary solution, it was decided to erect an obstacle in the
three regions found to be most vulnerable to the passage of terrorists
into Israel: the Umm El-Fahm region and the villages split between Israel
and the area (Baka and Barta'a); the Qalqilya-Tulkarm region; and the
Greater Jerusalem region. It was further decided to create a team of
Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, which would examine long-term
solutions to prevent the infiltration of Palestinians, including terrorists,
into Israel.
4. The Government of Israel held deliberations on the
"Seam Area" program (June 23, 2002). The armed services presented
their proposal to erect an obstacle on the "Seam ." The government
approved stage 1 of the project, which provides a solution to the operational
problem of terrorist infiltration into the north of the country, the
center of the country and the Jerusalem area. The obstacle that was
approved begins in the area of the Salam village, adjacent to the Meggido
junction, and continues until the trans-Samaria road. An additional
obstacle in the Jerusalem area was also approved. The entire obstacle,
as approved, is 116 km long. The government decision provided:
(3) In the framework of stage 1 - approval of the security
Fences and obstacles in the "Seam Area" and in Greater Jerusalem,
for the purpose of preventing the penetration of terrorists from the
area of Judea and Samaria into Israel.
(4) The Fence, like the other obstacles, is a security
measure. Its construction does not mark a national border or any other
border.
..
(6) The precise and final location of the Fence will
be established by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense . the
final location will be presented before the Ministers' Committee on
National Security or before the government.
5. The Ministers' Committee on National Security approved
(August 14, 2002) the final location of the obstacle. The Prime Minister
and the Minister of Defense approved (December 2002) stage 2 of the
obstacle from Salam village east to the Jordan River, 60 km long, and
an extension, a few kilometers long, from Mount Avner (adjacent to El-Mouteelah
village) in the Southern Gilboa range to the village of Tayseer.
6. The Ministers' Committee on National Security decided
(on September 5, 2003) to construct stage 3 of the obstacle in the Greater
Jerusalem area (except in the Ma'ale Adumim area). The length of this
obstacle is 64 km. The government, on October 1, 2003, set out its decision
regarding stages 3 and 4 of the obstacle:
A. The Government reiterates its decision regarding
the importance of the "Seam Area" and emphasizes the security
need for the obstacle in the "Seam Area" and in "Greater
Jerusalem."
B. Therefore:
1. We approve the construction of the obstacle for
the prevention of terror activities according to the stages and location
as presented today before us by the armed forces (the map of the stages
and location of the Fence is on file in the government secretariat).
2. The obstacle that will be erected pursuant to this
decision, like other segments of the obstacle in the "Seam Area,"
is a security measure for the prevention of terror attacks and does
not mark a national border or any other border.
3. Local changes, either of the location of the obstacle
or of its implementation, will be brought before the Minister of Defense
and the Prime Minister for approval.
4. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and
the Finance Minister shall calculate the budget necessary for implementation
of this decision as well as its financial schedule. The computation
shall be brought before the government for approval.
5. In this framework, additional immediate security
steps for the defense of Israelis in Judea and Samaria during the period
of construction of the obstacle in the "Seam Area" shall be
agreed upon.
6. During the planning, every effort shall be made
to minimize, to the extent possible, the disturbances to the daily lives
of the Palestinians due to the construction of the obstacle.
The location of this Fence, which passes through areas
west of Jerusalem, stands at the heart of the dispute between the parties.
The Separation Fence
7. The "Seam" obstacle is composed of several
components. In its center stands a "smart" Fence. The purpose
of the Fence is to alert the forces deployed along its length of any
attempt at infiltration. On the Fence's external side lies an anti-vehicle
obstacle, composed of a trench or another means, intended to prevent
vehicles from breaking through the Fence by slamming up against it.
There is an additional delaying Fence. Near the Fence a service road
is paved. On the internal side of the electronic Fence, there are a
number of roads: a dirt road (for the purpose of discovering the
tracks of those who pass the Fence), a patrol road,
and a road for armored vehicles, as well as an additional Fence. The
average width of the obstacle, in its optimal form, is 50 - 70 meters.
Due to constraints, a narrower obstacle, which includes only the components
supporting the electronic Fence, will be constructed in specific areas.
In certain cases the obstacle can reach a width of 100 meters, due to
topographical conditions. In the area relevant to this petition, the
width of the obstacle will not exceed 35 meters, except in places where
a wider obstacle is necessary for topographical reasons. In the area
relevant to this petition, the Fence is not being replaced by a concrete
wall. Efforts are being made to minimize the width of the area of which
possession will be taken de facto. Various means to help prevent infiltration
will be erected along the length of the obstacle. The IDF and the border
police will patrol the Separation Fence, and will be called to locations
of infiltration, in order to frustrate the infiltration and to pursue
those who succeed in crossing the security Fence. Hereinafter, we will
also refer to the entire obstacle in the area of the Seam as the "Separation
Fence."
The Seizure Proceedings
8. Parts of the Separation Fence are being erected
on land which is not privately owned. Other parts are being erected
on private land. In such circumstances - and in light of the security
necessities - an order of seizure is issued by the Commander of the
IDF Forces in the area of Judea and Samaria (respondent 2). Pursuant
to standard procedure, every land owner whose land is seized will receive
compensation for the use of his land. After the order of seizure is
signed, it is brought to the attention of the public, and the proper
liaison body of the Palestinian Authority is contacted. An announcement
is relayed to the residents, and each interested party is invited to
participate in a survey of the area affected by the order of seizure,
in order to present the planned location of the Fence. A few days after
the order is issued, a survey is taken of the area, with the participation
of the landowners, in order to point out the land which is about to
be seized.
After the survey, a one week leave is granted to the
landowners, so that they may submit an appeal to the military commander.
The substance of the appeals is examined. Where it is possible, an attempt
is made to reach understandings with the landowners. If the appeal is
denied, leave of one additional week is given to the landowner, so that
he may petition the High Court of Justice.
The Petition
9. The petition, as originally worded, attacked the
orders of seizure regarding lands in the villages of Beit Sourik, Bidu,
El Kabiba, Katane, Beit A'anan, Beit Likia, Beit Ajaza and Beit Daku.
These lands are adjacent to the towns of Mevo Choron, Har Adar, Mevasseret
Zion, and the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ramot and Giv'at Zeev, which
are located west and northwest of Jerusalem. Petitioners are the landowners
and the village councils affected by the orders of seizure. They argue
that the orders of seizure are illegal. As such, they should be voided
or the location of the Separation Fence should be changed. The injury
to petitioners, they argue, is severe and unbearable. Over 42,000 dunams
of land of their lands are affected. The obstacle itself passes over
4,850 dunams of land, and will separate petitioners from more than 37,000
dunams of land, 26,500 of which are agricultural lands that have been
cultivated for many generations. Access to these agricultural lands
will become difficult and even impossible. Petitioners' ability to go
from place to place will depend on a bureaucratic permit regime which
is labyrinthine, complex, and burdensome. Use of local water wells will
not be possible. As such, access to water for crops will be hindered.
Shepherding, which depends on access to these wells, will be made difficult.
Tens of thousands of olive and fruit trees will be uprooted.
The Fence will separate villages from tens of thousands
of additional trees. The livelihood of many hundreds of Palestinian
families, based on agriculture, will be critically injured. Moreover,
the Separation Fence injures not only landowners to whom the orders
of seizure apply; the lives of 35,000 village residents will be disrupted.
The Separation Fence will harm the villages' ability to develop and
expand. The access roads to the urban centers of Ramallah and Bir Naballa
will be blocked off. Access to medical and other services in East Jerusalem
and in other places will become impossible. Ambulances will encounter
difficulty in providing emergency services to residents. Children's
access to schools in the urban centers, and of students to universities,
will be impaired. Petitioners argue that these injuries cannot be justified.
10. Petitioners' argument is that the orders are illegal
in light of Israeli administrative law, and in light of the principles
of public international law which apply to the dispute before us. First,
petitioners claim that respondent lacks the authority to issue the orders
of seizure. Were the route of the Separation Fence to pass along Israel's
border, they would have no complaint. However, this is not the case.
The route of the Separation Fence, as per the orders of seizure, passes
through areas of Judea and Samaria. According to their argument, these
orders alter the borders of the West Bank with no express legal authority.
It is claimed that the Separation Fence annexes areas to Israel in violation
of international law. The Separation Fence serves the needs of the occupying
power and not the needs of the occupied area. The objective of the Fence
is to prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Israel; as such, the
Fence is not intended to serve the interests of the local population
in the occupied area, or the needs of the occupying power in the occupied
area. Moreover, military necessity does not require construction of
the Separation Fence along the planned route. The security arguments
guiding respondents disguise the real objective: the annexation of areas
to Israel. As such, there is no legal basis for the construction of
the Fence, and the orders of seizure which were intended to make it
possible are illegal. Second, petitioners argue that the procedure for
the determination of the route of the Separation Fence was illegal.
The orders were not published and were not brought to the knowledge
of most of the affected landowners; petitioners learned of them by chance,
and they were granted extensions of only a few days for the submission
of appeals. Thus, they were not allowed to participate in the determination
of the route of the Separation Fence, and their arguments were not heard.
11. Third, the Separation Fence violates many fundamental
rights of the local inhabitants, illegally and without authority. Their
right to property is violated by the very taking of possession of the
lands and by the prevention of access to their lands. In addition, their
freedom of movement is impeded. Their livelihoods are hurt and their
freedom of occupation is restricted. Beyond the difficulties in working
the land, the Fence will make the trade of farm produce difficult. The
Fence detracts from the educational opportunities of village children,
and throws local family and community life into disarray. Freedom of
religion is violated, as access to holy places is prevented. Nature
and landscape features are defaced. Petitioners argue that these violations
are disproportionate and are not justified under the circumstances.
The Separation Fence route reflects collective punishment, prohibited
by international law. Thus, respondent neglects the obligation, set
upon his shoulders by international law, to make normal and proper life
possible for the inhabitants of Judea and Samaria. The security considerations
guiding him cannot, they claim, justify such severe injury to the local
inhabitants. This injury does not fulfill the requirements of proportionality.
According to their argument, despite the language of the orders of seizure,
it is clear that the Fence is not of a temporary character, and the
critical wound it inflicts upon the local population far outweighs its
benefits.
The Response to the Petition
12. Respondents, in their first response, argued that
the orders of seizure and the route through which the Separation Fence
passes are legal. The Separation Fence is a project of utmost national
importance. Israel is in the midst of actual combat against a wave of
terror, supported by the Palestinian population and leadership. At issue
are the lives of the citizens and residents of Israel, who are threatened
by terrorists who infiltrate into the territory of Israel. At issue
are the lives of Israeli citizens residing in the area. The construction
of the Separation Fence system must be completed as rapidly as possible.
The Separation Fence has already proved its efficacy in areas where
it has been erected. It is urgent that it also be erected in the region
of petitioners' villages. Respondents claim that a number of terror
attacks against Jerusalem and against route no. 443, which connects
Jerusalem and the city of Modi'in, have originated in this area. The
central consideration in choosing the route of the Separation Fence
was the operational-security consideration. The purpose of the Fence
is to prevent the uncontrolled passage of residents of the area into
Israel and into Israeli towns located in the areas. The Separation Fence
is also intended to prevent the smuggling of arms, and to prevent the
infiltration of Palestinians, which will likely lead to the establishment
of terror cells in Israel and to new recruits for existing cells. Additionally,
the forces acting along the obstacle, and Israeli towns on both sides
of it, must be protected. As dictated by security considerations, the
area of the Separation Fence must have topographic command of its surroundings.
This is in order to allow surveillance and to prevent attacks upon the
forces guarding it. To the extent possible, a winding route must be
avoided. In addition, a "security zone" is required to provide
warning of possible terrorist infiltration into Israel. Thus, in appropriate
places, in order to make pursuit possible in the event of infiltration,
the Fence must pass through the area. An additional security consideration
is the fact that, due to construction of the obstacle, attempted attacks
will be concentrated on Israeli towns adjacent to the Fence, which also
must be protected.
13. Respondents explain that, in planning the route
of the Separation Fence, great weight was given to the interests of
the residents of the area, in order to minimize, to the extent possible,
the injury to them. Certain segments of the Fence are brought before
the State Attorney for prior examination and, if necessary, before the
Attorney-General as well. An effort is being made to lay the obstacle
along property that is not privately owned or agriculturally cultivated;
consideration is given to the existing planning schemes of Palestinian
and Israeli towns; an effort is being made to refrain from cutting lands
off from their owners. In the event of such a cutoff, agricultural gateways
will allow farmers access to their lands. New roads will be paved which
will provide for the needs of the residents. In cases where damage cannot
be avoided, landowners will be compensated for the use of their seized
lands. Efforts will be made to transfer agricultural crops instead of
cutting them down. Prior to seizure of the land, the inhabitants will
be granted the opportunity to appeal. Respondents assert that they are
willing to change the route in order to minimize the damage. Respondents
declared, in addition, that they intend to erect permanent checkpoints
east of certain villages, which will be open 24 hours a day, every day
of the year, and which will allow the preservation of the fabric of
life in the area. It has also been decided to improve the road system
between the villages involved in this petition, in order to tighten
the bonds between them, and between them and Ramallah. Likewise, the
possibility of paving a road to enable free and speedy passage from
the villages to Ramallah is being examined. All these considerations
were taken into account in the determination of the route. The appeals
of local inhabitants injured by the route are currently being heard.
All this, claim respondents, amounts to a proper balance between consideration
for the local inhabitants and between the need to protect the lives
of Israeli citizens, residents, and soldiers.
14. Respondents claim that the process of seizure was
legal. The seizure was brought to the knowledge of petitioners, and
they were given the opportunity to participate in a survey and to submit
appeals. The contractors responsible for building the obstacle are instructed
to move (as opposed to cutting down) trees wherever possible. This is
the current practice regarding olive trees. Some buildings, in cooperation
with landowners to the extent possible, are taken down and transferred
to agreed locations. Respondents argue that the inhabitants did not
always take advantage of the right to have their arguments heard.
15. Respondent's position is that the orders of seizure
are legal. The power to seize land for the obstacle is a consequence
of the natural right of the State of Israel to defend herself against
threats from outside her borders. Likewise, security officials have
the power to seize lands for combat purposes, and by the laws of belligerent
occupation. Respondents do not deny the need to be considerate of the
injury to the local population and to keep that injury proportionate;
their claim is that they fulfill these obligations. Respondents deny
the severity of the injury claimed by petitioners. The extent of the
areas to be seized for the building of the Fence, the injury to agricultural
areas, and the injury to trees and groves, are lesser - by far - than
claimed. All the villages are connected to water systems and, as such,
damage to wells cannot prevent the supply of water for agricultural
and other purposes. The marketing of agricultural produce will be possible
even after the construction of the Fence. In each village there is a
medical clinic, and there is a central clinic in Bidu. A few archeological
sites will find themselves beyond the Fence, but these sites are neglected
and not regularly visited. The educational needs of the local population
will also be taken into account. Respondents also note that, in places
where the Separation Fence causes injury to the local population, efforts
are being made to minimize that injury. In light of all this, respondents
argue that the petitions should be denied.
The Hearing of the Petition
16. Oral arguments were spread out over a number of
hearings. During this time, the parties modified the formulation of
their arguments. In light of these modifications, respondent was willing
to allow changes in part of the route of the Separation Fence. In certain
cases the route was changed de facto. Thus, for example, it was changed
next to the town of Har Adar, and next to the village of Beit Sourik.
This Court (President A. Barak, Vice-President (ret.) T. Or, and Vice-President
E. Mazza) heard the petition (on February 29, 2004). The remainder of
the hearing was postponed for a week in order to allow the sides to
take full advantage of their right to have their arguments heard and
to attempt to reach a compromise. We ordered that no work on the Separation
Fence in the area of the petition be done until the next hearing.
The next hearing of the petition was on March 17, 2004.
Petitioners submitted a motion to file additional documents, the most
important of which was an affidavit prepared by members of the Council
for Peace and Security, which is a registered society of Israelis with
a background in security, including high ranking reserve officers, including
Major General (res.) Danny Rothchild, who serves as president of the
Council, Major General (res.) Avraham Adan (Bren), Commissioner (emeritus)
Shaul Giv'oli, who serves as the general manager of the Council, and
Colonel (res.) Yuval Dvir. The affidavit was signed by A. Adan, S. Giv'oli
and Y. Dvir. The society, which sees itself as nonpartisan, was, it
argued, among the first to suggest a Separation Fence as a solution
to Israel's security needs. The affidavit included detailed and comprehensive
comments regarding various segments of this route, and raised reservations
about them from a security perspective. The claims in the affidavit
were serious and grave. After reading them, we requested (on March 17,
2004) the comments of Respondent, The Commander of IDF Forces in the
area of Judea and Samaria, Lieutenant-General Moshe Kaplinsky.
17. This Court (President A. Barak, Vice-President
E. Mazza, and Justice M. Cheshin) resumed the hearing of the petition
(on March 31, 2004). Just prior to reconvening, we granted (on March
23, 2004) petitioners' motion to amend their petition such that it would
include additional orders issued by respondent: Tav/110/03 (concerning
the area located north of the Beit Daku village in the Giv'at Ze'ev
area); Tav/104/03 and Tav/105/03 (concerning areas located southeast
of the town of Maccabim and south of the village of Beit Lakia). After
we heard (on March 31, 2004) the parties' arguments, we decided to issue
an order nisi, to the extent relevant to the villages and petitioners,
and to narrow the application of the temporary injunction, such that
it would not apply to the segment between Beit Ajaza and New Giv'on,
and the segment between the Beit Chanan riverbed and the ascent to Jebel
Mukatam. We further decided to narrow the injunction, such that respondent
would refrain from making irrevocable changes in the segment north of
Har Adar, and in the segment between the villages of A-Tira and Beit
Daku. We have noted respondents' announcement that if it turns out that
the building of the obstacle at these locations was illegal, proper
compensation will be given to all who suffered injury. See our order
of March 31, 2004. We continued to hear the arguments of the parties
(on April 16, April 21, and May 2, 2004). Petitioners submitted an alternate
route for construction of the Separation Fence. Additional affidavits
were submitted by the Council for Peace and Security and by respondent.
An opinion paper on the ecological effects of the route of the Fence
was submitted for our review. Pursuant to our request, detailed relief
models representing the topography of the area through which the obstacle
passes were submitted. The relief models showed the route of the obstacle,
as set out by respondent, as well as the alternate routes proposed by
petitioners. In addition, a detailed aerial photograph of these routes
was submitted.
18. Members of the Council for Peace and Security moved
to be joined as amici curiae. Pursuant to the stipulation of the parties,
an additional affidavit (of April 15, 2004) submitted (by Major General
(res.) D. Rothchild who serves as the president of the Council, as well
as by A. Adan, S. Giv'oli and Y. Dvir) was joined to the petition, without
ruling that this position was identical to petitioners'. In the opinion
of the Council members, the Separation Fence must achieve three principle
objectives: it must serve as an obstacle to prevent, or at least delay,
the entry of terrorists into Israel; it must grant warning to the armed
forces in the event of an infiltration; and it must allow control, repair,
and monitoring by the mobile forces posted along it. In general, the
Fence must be far from the houses of the Palestinian villages, not close
to them. If the Fence is close to villages, it is easier to attack forces
patrolling it. Building the Fence in the manner set out by respondent
will require the building of passages and gateways, which will engender
friction; the injury to the local population and their bitterness will
increase the danger to security. Such a route will make it difficult
to distinguish between terrorists and innocent inhabitants. Thus, the
Separation Fence must be distanced from the Palestinian homes, and transferred,
accordingly, to the border of the area of Judea and Samaria. In their
opinion, the argument that the Fence must be built at a distance from
Israeli towns in order to provide response time in case of infiltration, can be overcome by the reinforcement of the obstacle near Israeli towns.
Distancing the planned route from Israeli towns in order to seize distant
hilltops with topographical control is unnecessary, and has serious
consequences for the length of the Separation Fence, its functionality,
and for attacks on it. In an additional affidavit (from April 18, 2004),
members of the Council for Peace and Security stated that the commander's
desire to prevent direct flat-trajectory fire upon the Separation Fence
actually causes other security problems. Due to this desire, the Fence
passes through areas that, while providing topographical control, are
superfluous, unnecessarily injuring the local population and increasing
friction with it, all without preventing fire upon the Fence.
19. Petitioners, pointing to the affidavits of the
Council for Peace and Security, argue that the route of the Separation
Fence is disproportionate. It does not serve the security objectives
of Israel, since establishing the route adjacent to the houses of the
Palestinians will endanger the state and her soldiers who are patrolling
along the Fence, as well as increasing the general danger to Israel's
security. In addition, such a route is not the least injurious means,
since it is possible to move the route farther away from petitioners'
villages and closer to Israel. The concern about infiltration can be
addressed by reinforcing the Fence and its accompanying obstacles.
20. Respondent recognizes the security and military
experience of those who signed the affidavit. However, he emphasizes
that the responsibility for protecting the residents of Israel from
security threats remains on his shoulders and on those of the security
officials. The disagreement is between experts on security. Regarding
such a disagreement, the opinion of the expert who is also responsible
for security bears the greater weight. Respondent accepts that the border
between Israel and Judea and Samaria must be taken into consideration
when establishing the route of the Separation Fence, in order to minimize
injury to residents of the area and to the fabric of their lives. He
argues, however, that this border is a political border and not a security
border, while the security objective of the Fence is not only to separate
Israel from the residents of the area of Judea and Samaria, but also
to ensure a security zone to allow the pursuit of terrorists who cross
the Separation Fence before they enter Israel. The Fence route must
prevent direct fire by the Palestinians, it must protect the soldiers
guarding the Fence, and must also take topographical considerations
into account. In light of all this, it is proper, under appropriate
circumstances, to move the route of the Separation Fence within the
areas of Judea and Samaria. The military commander concedes that moving
the Separation Fence proximate to houses of Palestinians is likely to
cause difficulties, but this is only one of the considerations which
must be taken into account. Reinforcement of the Fence adjacent to Israeli
towns does not provide a solution to the danger of shooting attacks,
and does not prevent infiltration into them. Likewise, such a step does
not take into consideration the engineering issues of moving the route
of the Fence. Regarding the route of the Fence itself, respondent notes
that, after examining the material before him, he is willing to change
part of the route. This is especially so regarding the route adjacent
to the town of Har Adar and east of it, adjacent to the villages of
Beit Sourik and Bidu. The remainder of the route proposed by petitioners
does not provide an appropriate solution to the security needs that
the Fence is intended to provide.
21. Parties presented arguments regarding the environmental
damage of the Separation Fence. Petitioners submitted, for our review,
expert opinion papers (dated April 15, 2004), which warn of the ecological
damage that will be caused by the Separation Fence. The Separation Fence
route will damage animal habitats and will separate animal populations
from vegetation, damaging the ecosystem in the area. The longer and
wider the route of the Fence, the more severe the damage. Therefore,
it is important to attempt to shorten the route of the Fence, and to
avoid unnecessary curves. The building of passageways for small animals
into the Fence, such as pipes of 20-30 cm. diameter, should be considered.
The Fence will also mar virgin landscape that has remained untouched
for millennia. Respondents replied with an opinion paper prepared by
an expert of the Nature and Parks Authority. It appears, from his testimony,
that there will indeed be ecological damage, but the damage will be
along any possible route of the Fence. It would have been appropriate
to maintain passageways in the Separation Fence for small animals, but
that proposal was rejected by the security agencies and is, in any case,
irrelevant to the question of the route. From the testimony it also
appears that representatives of the Nature and Parks Agency are involved
in the planning of the Fence route, and efforts are being made to minimize
ecological damage.
22. A number of residents of Mevasseret Zion, which
is adjacent to the Beit Sourik village, requested to join as petitioners
in this petition. They claim that the Fence route should be immediately
adjacent to the Green Line, in order to allow residents of the Beit
Sourik village to work their land. In addition, they claim that the
gates which will allow the passage of farmers are inefficient, that
they will obstruct access to the fields, and that they will violate
the farmer's dignity. Furthermore, they point out the decline of relations
with the Palestinian population in the area which, as a consequence
of the desire to construct the Separation Fence on its land, has turned
from a tranquil population into a hostile one. On the opposing side,
Mr. Efraim Halevy requested to join as a respondent in the petition.
He argues that moving the route of the Fence adjacent to the Green Line
will endanger the residents of Mevasseret Zion. It will bring the route
closer to the houses and schools in the community. He also points out
the terrorist activity which has taken place in the past in the Beit
Sourik area. Thus, the alternate route proposed by petitioners should
be rejected. He claims that this position reflects the opinions of many
residents of Mevasseret Zion. After reading the motions, we decided
to accept them, and we considered the arguments they presented.
The Normative Framework
23. The general point of departure of all parties -
which is also our point of departure - is that Israel holds the area
in belligerent occupation (occupatio bellica). See HCJ 619/78 "El
Tal'ia" Weekly v. Minister of Defense; HCJ 69/81 Abu Ita v. Commander
of the Area of Judea and Samaria; HCJ 606/78 Ayoob v. Minister of Defense;
HCJ 393/82 Jam'iat Ascan Elma' almoon Eltha'aooniah Elmahduda Elmaoolieh
v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the Area of Judea and Samaria. In
the areas relevant to this petition, military administration, headed
by the military commander, continues to apply. Compare HCJ 2717/96 Wafa
v. Minister of Defense (application of the military administration in
"Area C"). The authority of the military commander flows from
the provisions of public international law regarding belligerent occupation.
These rules are established principally in the Regulations Concerning
the Laws and Customs of War on Land, The Hague, 18 October 1907 [hereinafter
- the Hague Regulations]. These regulations reflect customary international
law. The military commander's authority is also anchored in IV Geneva
Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War 1949. [hereinafter - the Fourth Geneva Convention]. The question
of the application of the Fourth Geneva Convention has come up more
than once in this Court. See HCJ 390/79 Duikat v. Government of Israel;
HCJ 61/80 Haetzni v. State of Israel, at 597. The question is not before
us now, since the parties agree that the humanitarian rules of the Fourth
Geneva Convention apply to the issue under review. See HCJ 698/80 Kawasme
v. Minister of Defense; Jam'iyat Ascan, at 794; Ajuri, at 364; HCJ 3278/02
Center for the Defense of the Individual v. Commander of the IDF Forces
in the West Bank Area, at 396. See also Meir Shamgar, The Observance
of International Law in the Administered Territories, 1 Israel Yearbook
on Human Rights 262 (1971).
24. Together with the provisions of international law,
"the principles of the Israeli administrative law regarding the
use of governing authority" apply to the military commander. See
Jam'iyat Ascan, at 793. Thus, the norms of substantive and procedural
fairness (such as the right to have arguments heard before expropriation,
seizure, or other governing actions), the obligation to act reasonably,
and the norm of proportionality apply to the military commander. See
Abu Ita, at 231; HCJ 591/88 Taha v. Minister of Defense, at 52; Ajuri,
at 382; HJC 10356/02 ?????Hess v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the
West Bank. Indeed, "[e]very Israeli soldier carries, in his pack,
the provisions of public international law regarding the laws of war
and the basic provisions of Israeli administrative law." Jam'iyat
Ascan, at 810.
25. This petition raises two separate questions. The
first question: is the military commander in Judea and Samaria authorized,
by the law applying to him, to construct the Separation Fence in Judea
and Samaria? An affirmative answer to this question raises a second
question concerning the location of the Separation Fence. Both questions
were raised before us in the petition, in the response, and in the parties'
arguments. The parties, however, concentrated on the second question;
only a small part of the arguments before us dealt with the first question.
The question of the authority to erect the Fence in the area is complex
and multifaceted, and it did not receive full expression in the arguments
before us. Without exhausting it, we too shall occupy ourselves briefly
with the first question, dealing only with the arguments raised by the
parties, and will then move to focus our discussion on the second question.
Authority to Erect the Separation Fence
26. Petitioners rest their assertion that the military
commander does not have authority to construct the Fence on two claims.
The first is that the military commander does not have the authority
to order construction of the Fence since his decision is founded upon
political - and not military - considerations.
27. We accept that the military commander cannot order
the construction of the Separation Fence if his reasons are political.
The Separation Fence cannot be motivated by a desire to "annex"
territories to the state of Israel. The purpose of the Separation Fence
cannot be to draw a political border. In Duikat, at 17, this Court discussed
whether it is possible to seize land in order to build a Jewish civilian
town, when the purpose of the building of the town is not the security
needs and defense of the area (as it was in Ayoob), but rather based
upon a Zionist perspective of settling the entire land of Israel. This
question was answered by this Court in the negative. The Vice-President
of this Court, Justice Landau, quoted the Prime Minister (the late Mr.
Menachem Begin), regarding the right of the Jewish people to settle
in Judea and Samaria. In his judgment, Justice Landau stated:
The view regarding the right of the Jewish people,
expressed in these words, is built upon Zionist ideology. However, the
question before this Court is whether this ideology justifies the taking
of the property of the individual in an area under control of the military
administration. The answer to that depends upon the interpretation of
article 52 of the Hague Regulations. It is my opinion that the needs
of the army mentioned in that article cannot include, by way of any
reasonable interpretation, national security needs in broad meaning
of the term.
In the same spirit I wrote, in Jam'iyat Ascan, at 794,
that
The military commander is not permitted to take the
national, economic, or social interests of his own country into account
. . . even the needs of the army are the army's military needs and not
the national security interest in the broad meaning of the term.
In Jam'iyat Ascan, we discussed whether the military
commander is authorized to expand a road passing through the area. In
this context I wrote, at 795:
The military administration is not permitted to plan
and execute a system of roads in an area held in belligerent occupation,
if the objective is only to construct a "service road" for
his own country. The planning and execution of a system of roads in
an occupied territory can be done for military reasons . . . the planning
and execution of a system of roads can be done for reasons of the welfare
of the local population. This planning and execution cannot be done
in order to serve the occupying country.
Indeed, the military commander of territory held in
belligerent occupation must balance between the needs of the army on
one hand, and the needs of the local inhabitants on the other. In the
framework of this delicate balance, there is no room for an additional
system of considerations, whether they be political considerations,
the annexation of territory, or the establishment of the permanent borders
of the state. This Court has emphasized time and time again that the
authority of the military commander is inherently temporary, as belligerent
occupation is inherently temporary. Permanent arrangements are not the
affair of the military commander. True, the belligerent occupation of
the area has gone on for many years. This fact affects the scope of
the military commander's authority. See Jam'iyat Ascan, at 800. The
passage of time, however, cannot extend the authority of the military
commander and allow him to take into account considerations beyond the
proper administration of the area under belligerent occupation.
28. We examined petitioners' arguments, and have come
to the conclusion, based upon the facts before us, that the Fence is
motivated by security concerns. As we have seen in the government decisions
concerning the construction of the Fence, the government has emphasized,
numerous times, that "the Fence, like the additional obstacles,
is a security measure. Its construction does not express a political
border, or any other border." (decision of June 23, 2002). "The
obstacle that will be erected pursuant to this decision, like other
segments of the obstacle in the "Seam Area," is a security
measure for the prevention of terror attacks and does not mark a national
border or any other border." (decision of October 1, 2003).
29. The Commander of the IDF Forces in the area of
Judea and Samaria (respondent no. 2), Major General M. Kaplinsky, submitted
an affidavit to the Court. In his affidavit he stated that "the
objective of the security Fence is to help contend with the threat of
Palestinian terror. Specifically, the Fence is intended to prevent the
unchecked passage of inhabitants of the area into Israel and their infiltration
into Israeli towns located in the area. Based on this security consideration
we determined the topographic route of the Fence." (affidavit of
April 15, sections 22-23). The commander of the area detailed his considerations
for the choice of the route. He noted the necessity that the Fence pass
through territory that topographically controls its surroundings, that,
in order to allow surveillance of it, its route be as flat as possible,
and that a "security zone" be established which will delay
infiltration into Israel. These are security considerations par excellence.
In an additional affidavit, Major General Kaplinsky testified that "it
is not a permanent Fence, but rather a temporary Fence erected for security
needs." (affidavit of April 19, 2004, section 4). We have no reason
not to give this testimony less than full weight, and we have no reason
not to believe the sincerity of the military commander.
30. Petitioners, by pointing to the route of the Fence,
attempt to prove that the construction of the Fence is not motivated
by security considerations, but by political ones. They argue that if
the Fence was primarily motivated by security considerations, it would
be constructed on the "Green Line," that is to say, on the
armistice line between Israel and Jordan after the War of Independence.
We cannot accept this argument. The opposite is the case: it is the
security perspective - and not the political one - which must examine
a route based on its security merits alone, without regard for the location
of the Green Line. The members of the Council for Peace and Security,
whose affidavits were brought before us by agreement of the parties,
do not recommend following the Green Line. They do not even argue that
the considerations of the military commander are political. Rather,
they dispute the proper route of the Separation Fence based on security
considerations themselves.
31. We set aside seven sessions for the hearing of
the petition. We heard the explanations of officers and workers who
handled the details of the Fence. During our hearing of the petition,
the route of the Fence was altered in several locations. Respondents
were open to our suggestions. Thus, for example, adjacent to the town
of Har Adar, they agreed to move the Fence passing north of the town
to the security zone closer to it, and distance it from the lands of
the adjacent village of El Kabiba. We have no reason to assume that
the objective is political rather than security-based. Indeed, petitioners
did not carry the burden and did not persuade us that the considerations
behind the construction of the Separation Fence are political rather
than security-based. Similarly, petitioners did not carry their burden,
and did not persuade us that the considerations of the Commander of
the IDF Forces in the area, in choosing the route of the Separation
Fence, are not military considerations, and that he has not acted to
fulfill them in good faith, according to his best military understanding.
32. Petitioners' second argument is that the construction
of the Fence in the area is based, in large part, on the seizure of
land privately owned by local inhabitants, that this seizure is illegal,
and that therefore the military commander's authority has no to construct
the obstacle. We cannot accept this argument. We found no defect in
the process of issuing the orders of seizure, or in the process of granting
the opportunity to appeal them. Regarding the central question raised
before us, our opinion is that the military commander is authorized
- by the international law applicable to an area under belligerent occupation
- to take possession of land, if this is necessary for the needs of
the army. See articles 23(g) and 52 of the Hague Convention; article
53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. He must, of course, provide compensation
for his use of the land. See HCJ 606/78 Ayoob v. Minster of Defense;
HCJ 401/88 Abu Rian v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the Area of Judea
and Samaria; Timraz. Indeed, on the basis of the provisions of the Hague
Convention and the Geneva Convention, this Court has recognized the
legality of land and house seizure for various military needs, including
the construction of military facilities (HCJ 834/78 Salama v. Minister
of Defense), the paving of detour roads (HCJ 202/81 Tabib v. Minister
of Defense; Wafa), the building of fences around outposts (Timraz),
the temporary housing of soldiers (HCJ 290/89 Jora
v. Commander of IDF Forces in Judea and Samaria), the ensuring of unimpaired
traffic on the roads of the area (Abu Rian), the construction of civilian
administration offices (HCJ 1987/90 Shadid v. Commander of IDF Forces
in the Area of Judea and Samaria), the seizing of buildings for the
deployment of a military force, (HCJ 8286/00 Association for Civil Rights
in Israel v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the Area of Judea and Samaria).
Of course, regarding all of these acts, the military commander must
consider the needs of the local population. Assuming that this condition
is met, there is no doubt that the military commander is authorized
to take possession of land in areas under his control. The construction
of the Separation Fence falls within this framework. The infringement
of property rights is insufficient, in and of itself, to take away the
authority to build it. It is permitted, by the international law applicable
to an area under belligerent occupation, to take possession of an individual's
land in order to erect a separation fence upon it, on the condition
that this is necessitated by military needs. To the extent that construction
of the Fence is a military necessity, it is permitted, therefore, by
international law. Indeed, the obstacle is intended to take the place
of combat military operations, by physically blocking terrorist infiltration
into Israeli population centers. The building of the obstacle, to the
extent it is done out of military necessity, is within the authority of the military commander. Of course, the route of the Separation Fence
must take the needs of the local population into account. That issue,
however, concerns the route of the Fence and not the authority to erect
it. After reaching this conclusion, we must now contend with the second
question before us: the question that constitutes the bulk of the arguments
before us. This question is the legality of the location and route of
the Separation Fence. We will now turn to this question.
The Route of the Separation Fence
33. The focus of this petition is the legality of the
route chosen for the construction of the Separation Fence. This question
stands on its own, and it requires a straightforward, real answer. It
is not sufficient that the Fence be motivated by security considerations,
as opposed to political considerations. The military commander is not
at liberty to pursue, in the area he holds in belligerent occupation,
every activity primarily motivated by security considerations. The discretion
of the military commander is restricted by the normative system in which
he acts, which is the source of his authority. Indeed, the military
commander is not the sovereign in the occupied territory. See Oppenheim,
The Legal Relations Between an Occupying Power and the Inhabitants,
33 Law Q. Rev., 363, 364 (1917); Y. Dinstein, The Law of War 210 (1983).
He must act within the law that establishes his authority in a situation
of belligerent occupation. What is the content of this law?
34. The law of belligerent occupation recognizes the
authority of the military commander to maintain security in the area
and to protect the security of his country and her citizens. However,
it imposes conditions on the use of this authority. This authority must
be properly balanced against the rights, needs, and interests of the
local population:
The law of war usually creates a delicate balance between
two poles: military necessity on one hand and humanitarian considerations
on the other.
Dinstein, Legislative Authority in the Administered
Territories, 2 Iyunei Mishpat 505, 509 (1973)
This Court has emphasized, in its case law since the
Six Day War, that "together with the right to administer comes
the obligation to provide for the well being of the population."
HCJ 337/71 Al-jamaya Al-masihiye L' alararchi Elmakdasa v. Minister
of Defense, at 581 (Sussman, D.P.).
The obligations and rights of a military administration
are defined, on one hand, by its own military needs and, on the other,
by the need to ensure, to the extent possible, the normal daily life
of the local population.
HCJ 256/72 Jerusalem District Electric Company v. Defense
Minister, at 138 (Landau, J.).
This doctrine . does not have to result in the restriction
of the power to tax, if this power is necessary for the well being of
the area and due to its needs, since a proper balance between those
considerations and the needs of the ruling army is a central and constant
consideration of a military administration.
Abu Ita, at 270 (Shamgar, V.P.) (emphasis in the original).
In J'mayat Ascan, at 794, I myself similarly wrote,
more than twenty years ago, that:
The Hague Regulations revolve around two main axes:
one - the ensuring of the legitimate security interests of the holder
of a territory held in belligerent occupation; the other - the ensuring
of the needs of the local population in the territory held in belligerent
occupation.
In HCJ 72/86 Zaloom v. The IDF Commander for the Area
of Judea and Samaria, at 532, I held:
In using their authority, respondents must consider,
on one hand, security considerations and, on the other hand, the interests
of the civilian population. They must achieve a balance between these
different considerations.
See also Marab, at 365. Similarly:
The obligation of the military administration, defined
in regulation 43 of the Hague Regulations, is to preserve the order
and the public life of the local population, but to do so while properly
balancing between the interests of the population in the territory,
and the military and security needs of soldiers and citizens located
in the territory.
HCJ 2977/91 Thaj v. Minister of Defense, at 474 (Levin,
J.).
The Hague Convention authorizes the military commander
to act in two central areas: one - ensuring the legitimate security
interest of the holder of the territory, and the other - providing for
the needs of the local population in the territory held in belligerent
occupation .. The first need is military and the second is civilian-humanitarian.
The first focuses upon the security of the military forces holding the
area, and the second focuses upon the responsibility for ensuring the
well being of the residents. In the latter area the military commander
is responsible not only for the maintenance of the order and security
of the inhabitants, but also for the protection of their rights, especially
their constitutional human rights. The concern for human rights stands
at the center of the humanitarian considerations which the military
commander must take into account.
Hess, at paragraph 8 (Procaccia, J.).
35. The approach of this Court is well anchored in
the humanitarian law of public international law. This is set forth
in Regulation 46 of the Hague Regulations and Article 46 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention. Regulation 46 of the Hague Regulations provides:
Family honour and rights, the lives of persons, and
private property, as well as religious convictions and practice, must
be respected. Private property cannot be confiscated.
Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides:
Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances,
to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their
religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs.
They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected
especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof .. However,
the Parties to the conflict may take such measures of control and security
in regard to protected persons as may be necessary as a result of the
war.
These rules are founded upon a recognition of the value
of man and the sanctity of his life. See Physicians for Human Rights,
at para. 11. Interpreting Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
Pictet writes:
Article 27 . . . occupies a key position among the
articles of the Convention. It is the basis of the Convention, proclaiming
as it does the principles on which the whole "Geneva Law"
is founded. It proclaims the principle of respect for the human person
and the inviolable character of the basic rights of individual men and
women . . . the right of respect for the person must be understood in
its widest sense: it covers all the rights of the individual, that is,
the rights and qualities which are inseparable from the human being
by the very fact of his existence and his mental and physical powers,
it includes, in particular, the right to physical, moral and intellectual
integrity - one essential attribute of the human person.
The rules in Regulation 46 of the Hague Regulations
and in Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention cast a double obligation
upon the military commander: he must refrain from actions that injure
the local inhabitants. This is his "negative" obligation.
He must take the legally required actions in order to ensure that the
local inhabitants shall not be injured. This is his "positive"
obligation. See Physicians for Human Rights. In addition to these fundamental
provisions, there are additional provisions that deal with specifics,
such as the seizure of land. See Regulation 23(g) and 52 of the Hague
Regulations; Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These provisions
create a single tapestry of norms that recognize both human rights and
the needs of the local population as well security needs from the perspective
of the military commander. Among these conflicting norms, a proper balance
must be found. What is that balance?
Proportionality
36. The problem of balancing security and liberty is
not specific to the discretion of a military commander of an area under
belligerent occupation. It is a general problem in the law, both domestic
and international. Its solution is universal. It is found deep in the
general principles of law, which include reasonableness and good faith.
See B. Cheng, General Principles of Law as Applied By International
Courts and Tribunals (1987); T. Meron, Human Rights and Humanitarian
Norms as Customary Law (1989); S. Rosenne, The Perplexities of Modern
International Law 63 (2002). One of these foundational principles, which
balances the legitimate objective with the means for achieving it, is
the principle of proportionality. According to this principle, the liberty
of the individual can be limited (in this case, the liberty of the local
inhabitants under belligerent occupation), on the condition that the
restriction is proportionate. This approach applies to all types of
law. In the framework of the petition before us, its importance is twofold:
first, it is a basic principle in international law in general and specifically
in the law of belligerent occupation; second, it is a central standard
in Israeli administrative law, which applies to the area under belligerent
occupation. We shall now briefly discuss each of these.
37. Proportionality is recognized today as a general
principle of international law. See Meron, at 65; R. Higgins, Problems
and Process: International Law and How We Use It 219 (1994); Delbruck,
Proportionality, 3 Encyclopedia of Public International Law 1140, 1144
(1997). Proportionality plays a central role in the law regarding armed
conflict. During such conflicts, there is frequently a need to balance
military needs with humanitarian considerations. See Gardam, Proportionality
and Force in International Law, 87 Am. J. Int'l L. 391 (1993); Garden,
Legal Restraints on Security Council Military Enforcement Action, 17
Mich. J. Int'l L. 285 (1996); Dinstein, Military Necessity, 3 Encyclopedia
of Public International Law 395 (1997); Medenica, Protocol I and Operation
Allied Force: Did NATO Abide by Principles of Proportionality ?, 23
Loy. L. A. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 329 (2001); Roberts, The Laws of
War in the War on Terror, 32 Isr. Yearbook of Hum. Rights. 1999 (2002).
Proportionality is a standard for balancing. Pictet writes:
In modern terms, the conduct of hostilities, and, at
all times the maintenance of public order, must not treat with disrespect
the irreducible demands of humanitarian law.
From the foregoing principle springs the Principle
of Humanitarian Law (or that of the law of war):
Belligerents shall not inflict harm on their adversaries
out of proportion with the object of warfare, which is to destroy or
weaken the strength of the enemy.
J. S. Pictet, Developments and Principles of International
Humanitarian Law 62 (1985). Similarly, Fenrick has stated:
[T]here is a requirement for a subordinate rule to
perform the balancing function between military and humanitarian requirements.
This rule is the rule of proportionality.
Fenrick, The Rule of Proportionality and Protocol I
in Conventional Warfare, 98 Military L. Rev. 91, 94 (1982). Gasser repeats
the same idea:
International humanitarian law takes into account losses
and damage as incidental consequences of (lawful) military operations
. The criterion is the principle of proportionality.
Gasser, Protection of the Civilian Population, The
Handbook of Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts 220 (D. Fleck ed., 1995).
38. Proportionality is not only a general principle
of international law. Proportionality is also a general principle of
Israeli administrative law. See Segal, The Cause of Action of Disproportionality
in Administrative Law, HaPraklit 50 (1990); Zamir, The Administrative
Law of Israel Compared to the Administrative Law of Germany, 2 Mishpat
U'Mimshal 109, 130 (1994). First a principle of our case law, then a
constitutional principle enshrined in article 8 of the Basic Law: Human
Dignity and Freedom, it is today one of the basic values of the Israeli
administrative law. See HCJ 987/94 Euronet Golden Lines (1992) Ltd.
v. Minister of Communications, at 435; HCJ 3477/95 Ben-Atiyah v. Minister
of Education, Culture & Sports; HCJ 1255/94 Bezeq v. Minister of
Communications, at 687; HCJ 3643/97 Stamka v. Minister of Interior;
HCJ 4644/00 Tavori v. The Second Authority for Television and Radio;
HCJ 9232/01 "Koach" Israeli Union of Organizations for the
Defense of Animals v. The Attorney-General, at 261; D. Dorner, Proportionality,
in 2 The Berenson Book 281 (A. Barak & C. Berenson eds., 1999).
The principle of proportionality applies to every act of the Israeli
administrative authorities. It also applies to the use of the military
commander's authority pursuant to the law of belligerent occupation.
39. Indeed, both international law and the fundamental
principles of Israeli administrative law recognize proportionality as
a standard for balancing the authority of the military commander in
the area with the needs of the local population. Indeed, the principle
of proportionality as a standard restricting the power of the military
commander is a common thread running through our case law. See Segal,
Security Authority, Administrative Proportionality and Judicial Review,
1 Iyunei Mishpat 477 (1993). Thus, for example, this Court examined,
by use of the standard of proportionality, the authority of the military
commander regarding "an order assigning a place of residence."
See Ajuri; HCJ 9552/03 Abed v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the West
Bank; HCJ 9586/03 Sualmeh v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the Judea
and Samaria Region. The standard of proportionality was likewise used
to examine his authority to surround towns and position checkpoints
on the access roads to and from them in order to frustrate terror. See
HCJ 2847/03 Alauna v. Commander of the IDF Forces in Judea and Samaria;
HCJ 2410/03 Elarja v. Commander of the IDF Forces in Judea and Samaria.
The same applied to damage to residents' property by combat activities
of the IDF (HCJ 9252/00 El Saka v. State of Israel); the establishment
of entry routes for Israelis into the area and the area's designation
as "closed military territory" (HCJ 9293/01 Barakeh v. Minister
of Defense); the means employed to protect the safety of worshippers
and their access to holy places (Hess); the demolition of houses for
operational needs (HCJ 4219/02 Joosin v. Commander of the IDF Forces
in the Gaza Strip); such demolition for deterrence purposes (HCJ 5510/92
Turkman v. Defense Minister, at 219; HCJ 1730/96 Sabih v. Commander
of the IDF Forces in the Area of Judea and Samaria, at 364; HCJ 893/04
Farj v. Commander of the IDF Forcers in the West Bank); the living conditions
of detained suspects in the area (HCJ 3278/02 Center for Defense of
the Individual v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the West Bank Area;
HCJ 5591/02 Yassin v. Commander of Kziot Military Camp); the authority
to arrest for investigation purposes and the denial of a meeting between
a detainee and an attorney (Marab); the siege of those hiding in holy
places (HCJ 3451/02 Almandi v. Minister of DeFence, at 36); and the
regulation of the recording and identification of residents of the area
(HCJ 2271/98 Abed v. Interior Minister).
The Meaning of Proportionality and its Elements
40. According to the principle of proportionality,
the decision of an administrative body is legal only if the means used
to realize its governmental objective is of proper proportion. The principle
of proportionality focuses, therefore, on the relationship between the
objective whose achievement is attempted, and the means used to achieve
it. This principle is a general one. It requires application. As such,
both in international law, which deals with different national systems
- from both the common law family (such as Canada) and the continental
family (such as Germany) - as well as in domestic Israeli law, three
subtests grant specific content to the principle of proportionality.
See J. Schwarze, European Administrative Law 687 (1992); N. Emiliou,
The Principle of Proportionality in European Law; A Comparative Study
(1996); E. Ellis (ed.), The Principle of Proportionality in the Laws
of Europe (1999).
41. The first subtest is that the objective must be
related to the means. The means that the administrative body uses must
be constructed to achieve the precise objective that the administrative
body is trying to achieve. The means used by the administrative body
must rationally lead to the realization of the objective. This is the
"appropriate means" or "rational means" test. According
to the second subtest, the means used by the administrative body must
injure the individual to the least extent possible. In the spectrum
of means that can be used to achieve the objective, the least injurious
means must be used. This is the "least injurious means" test.
The third test requires that the damage caused to the individual by
the means used by the administrative body in order to achieve its objectives
must be of proper proportion to the gain brought about by that means.
That is the "proportionate means" test (or proportionality
"in the narrow sense.") The test of proportionality "in
the narrow sense" is commonly applied with "absolute values,"
by directly comparing the advantage of the administrative act with the
damage that results from it. However, it is also possible to apply the
test of proportionality in the narrow sense in a "relative manner."
According to this approach, the administrative act is tested vis-à-vis
an alternate act, whose benefit will be somewhat smaller than that of
the former one. The original administrative act is disproportionate
in the narrow sense if a certain reduction in the advantage gained by
the original act - by employing alternate means, for example - ensures
a substantial reduction in the injury caused by the administrative act.
42. It is possible to say that the means used by an
administrative authority are proportionate only if all three subtests
are satisfied. Satisfaction of one or two of these subtests is insufficient.
All three of them must be satisfied simultaneously. Not infrequently,
there are a number of ways that the requirement of proportionality can
be satisfied. In these situations a "zone of proportionality"
must be recognized (similar to a "zone of reasonableness.")
Any means chosen by the administrative body that is within the zone
of proportionality is proportionate. See Ben-Atiyah, at 13; HCJ 4769/95
Menachem v. Minister of Transportation, at 258.
43. This principle of proportionality also applies
to the exercise of authority by the military commander in an area under
belligerent occupation. Thus, for example, in Ajuri, the question arose
whether restricting the area in which one can live - in that case, the
transfer of local inhabitants from the area of Judea and Samaria to
the Gaza Strip - was proportionate. Regarding the proportionality test,
as applied in that case, I wrote:
Like the use of any other means, the means of restricting
the area in which one can live must be also be used proportionately.
The individual's offense must be proportionate to the means employed
by the authorities . an appropriate link is necessary between the objective
of preventing danger from the person whose living area is restricted,
and the danger if this means is not employed . it is necessary that
the injury caused by the means employed be minimal; it is also necessary
that the means of restricting the living area be of proper proportion
to the security benefit to the area.
Id., at 373.
The Proportionality of the Route of the Separation
Fence
44. The principle of proportionality applies to our
examination of the legality of the Separation Fence. This approach is
accepted by respondents. It is reflected in the government decision
(of October 1, 2003) that "during the planning, every effort shall
be made to minimize, to the extent possible, the disturbance to the
daily lives of the Palestinians due to the construction of the obstacle."
The argument that the damage caused by the Separation Fence route is
proportionate was the central argument of respondents. Indeed, our point
of departure is that the Separation Fence is intended to realize a security
objective that the military commander is authorized to achieve. The
key question regarding the route of the Fence is: is the route of the
Separation Fence proportionate? The proportionality of the Separation
Fence must be decided by the three following questions, which reflect
the three subtests of proportionality. First, does the route pass the
"appropriate means" test (or the "rational means"
test)? The question is whether there is a rational connection between
the route of the Fence and the goal of the construction of the Separation
Fence. Second, does it pass the test of the "least injurious"
means? The question is whether, among the various routes which would
achieve the objective of the Separation Fence, is the chosen one the
least injurious. Third, does it pass the test of proportionality in
the narrow sense? The question is whether the Separation Fence route,
as set out by the military commander, injures the local inhabitants
to the extent that there is no proper proportion between this injury
and the security benefit of the Fence. According to the "relative"
examination of this test, the Separation Fence will be found disproportionate
if an alternate route for the Fence is suggested that has a smaller
security advantage than the route chosen by respondent, but which will
cause significantly less damage than that original route.
The Scope of Judicial Review
45. Before we examine the proportionality of the route
of the Separation Fence, it is appropriate that we define the character
of our examination. Our point of departure is the assumption, which
petitioners did not manage to negate, that the government decision to
construct the Separation Fence is motivated by security, and not political,
considerations. As such, we work under the assumption - which the petitioners
also did not succeed in negating - that the military commander based
the route of the Fence on military considerations which, to the best
of his knowledge, are capable of realizing this security objective.
In addition, we assume - and this issue was not even disputed in the
case before us - that the military commander is of the opinion that
the injury to local inhabitants is proportionate. On the basis of this
factual foundation, there are two questions before us. The first question
is whether the route of the Separation Fence, as determined by the military
commander, is well-founded from a military standpoint. Is there another
route for the Separation Fence which better achieves the security objective?
This constitutes a central component of proportionality. If the chosen
route is not well-founded from the military standpoint, then there is
no rational connection between the objective that the Fence is intended
to achieve and the chosen route (the first subtest); if there is a route
which better achieves the objective, we must examine whether this alternative
route inflicts a lesser injury (the second subtest). The second question is whether the route of the Fence is proportionate. Both of these questions
are important for the examination according to proportionality. However,
they also raise separate problems regarding the scope of judicial review.
My colleague, Justice M. Cheshin, has correctly noted:
Different subjects require, in and of themselves, different
methods of intervention. Indeed, acts of state and acts of war do not
change their character just because they are subject to the review of
the judiciary, and the character of the acts, according to the nature
of things, imprints its mark on the methods of intervention.
HCJ 1730/96 Sabih v. Commander of IDF forces in the
Area of Judea and Samaria, at 369. We shall examine, therefore, the
scope of intervention for each of the two questions before us, separately.
The Military Nature of the Route of the Separation
Fence
46. The first question deals with the military character
of the route. It examines whether the route chosen by the military commander
for the Separation Fence achieves its stated objectives, and whether
there is no route that achieves this objective better. It raises issues
within the realm of military expertise. We, Justices of the Supreme
Court, are not experts in military affairs. We will not examine whether
the military commander's military opinion corresponds to ours - to the
extent that we have an opinion regarding the military character of the
route. So we act in all questions that are matters of professional expertise,
and so we act in military affairs as well. All we can determine is whether
a reasonable military commander would have set out the route as this
military commander did. President Shamgar regarded this idea, noting:
It is obvious, that a court cannot "slip into
the shoes" of the deciding military official . In order to substitute
the discretion of the commander with the discretion of the Court, we
examine the question whether, in light of all of the facts, the employment
of the means can be viewed as reasonable.
HCJ 1005/89 Aga v. Commander of the IDF Forces in the
Gaza Strip Area, at 539. Similarly, in Ajuri, I wrote:
The Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice,
reviews the legality of the military commander's discretion. Our point
of departure is that the military commander, and those who obey his
orders, are civil servants holding public positions. In exercising judicial
review, we do not turn ourselves into experts in security affairs. We
do not substitute the security considerations of the military commander
with our own security considerations. We take no position regarding
the way security affairs are run. Our task is to guard the borders and
to maintain the boundaries of the military commander's discretion ..
It is true, that "the security of the state" is not a "magic
word" which makes judicial review disappear. Thus, we shall not
be deterred from reviewing the decisions of the military commander .
simply because of the important security considerations anchoring his
decision. However, we shall not substitute the discretion of the commander
with our own discretion. We shall check the legality of the discretion
of the military commander and ensure that his decisions fall within
the "zone of reasonableness."
Id., at 375; see also HCJ 619/78 "Al Tal'ia"
Weekly v. Defense Minister, at 512; Jam'iat Ascan, at 809; Barake, at
16.
47. The petition before us is exceptional in that opinions
were submitted by the Council for Peace and Security. These opinions
deal with the military aspect of the Separation Fence. They were given
by experts in the military and security fields, whose expertise was
also recognized by the commander of the area. We stand, therefore, before
contradictory military opinions regarding the military aspects of the
route of the Separation Fence. These opinions are based upon contradictory
military views. Thus, for example, it is the view of the military commander
that the Separation Fence must be distanced from the houses of Jewish
towns, in order to ensure a security zone that will allow the pursuit
of terrorists who succeed in penetrating the Separation Fence, and that
topographically controlling territory must be included inside the Fence.
In order to achieve these objectives, sometimes one cannot escape the
need to build the Separation Fence proximate to the houses of the local
inhabitants. In contrast, the view of military experts of the Council
for Peace and Security is that the Separation Fence must be distanced
from the houses of local inhabitants, since proximity to them endangers
security. Topographically controlling territory can be held without
including it in the route of the Fence. In this state of affairs, are
we at liberty to adopt the opinion of the Council for Peace and Security?
Our answer is negative. At the foundation of this approach is our long-held
view that we must grant special weight to the military opinion of the
official who is responsible for security. Vice-President M. Landau J.
dealt with this point in a case where the Court stood before two expert
opinions: that of the Major General serving as Coordinator of IDF Activity
in the Territories and that of a reserve Major General. Thus wrote the
Court:
In such a dispute regarding military-professional questions,
in which the Court has no well founded knowledge of its own, the witness
of respondents, who speaks for those actually responsible for the preservation
of security in the administered territories and within the Green Line,
shall benefit from the assumption that his professional reasons are
sincere reasons. Very convincing evidence is necessary in order to negate
this assumption.
HCJ 258/79 Amira v. Defense Minister, 92.
Justice Vitkon wrote similarly in Duikat, in which
the Court was faced with a conflict between the expert opinion of the
serving Chief of the General Staff regarding the security of the area,
and the expert opinion of a former Chief of the General Staff. The Court
ruled, in that case, as follows:
In security issues, where the petitioner relies on
the opinion of an expert in security affairs, and the respondent relies
on the opinion of a person who is both an expert and also responsible
for the security of the state, it natural that we will grant special
weight to the opinion of the latter.
HCJ 390/79 Duikat v. Government of Israel.
Therefore, in our examination of the contrasting military
considerations in this case, we give special weight to the fact that
the commander of the area is responsible for security. Having employed
this approach, we are of the opinion - the details of which we shall
explain below - that petitioners have not carried their burden, and
have not convinced us that we should prefer the professional expert
opinion of members of the Council for Peace and Security over the security
stance of the commander of the area. We are dealing with two military
approaches. Each of them has military advantages and disadvantages.
In this state of affairs, we must place the expert opinion of the military
commander at the foundation of our decision.
The Proportionality of the Route of the Separation
Fence
48. The second question regards the proportionality
of the route of the Separation Fence, as determined by the military
commander. This question raises no problems in the field of military
considerations. Rather, it relates to the severity of the injury caused
to the local inhabitants by the route decided upon by the military commander.
Within the context of this question, we are dealing not with military
considerations, but rather with humanitarian considerations. The question
is not the proportionality of different military considerations. The
question is the proportionality between the military consideration and
the humanitarian consideration. The question is not whether to prefer
the military approach of the military commander to that of the experts
of the Council for Peace and Security. The question is whether the route
of the Separation Fence, according to the approach of the military commander,
is proportionate. The standard for this question is not the subjective
standard of the military commander. The question is not whether the
military commander believed, in good faith, that the injury was proportionate.
The standard is objective. The question is whether, by legal standards,
the route of the Separation Fence passes the tests of proportionality.
This is a legal question, the expertise for which is held by the Court.
I dealt with this issue in Physicians for Human Rights, stating:
Judicial review does not examine the wisdom of the
decision to engage in military activity. In exercising judicial review,
we examine the legality of the military activity. Therefore, we assume
that the military activity that took place in Rafah was necessary from
a military standpoint. The question before us is whether this military
activity satisfies the national and international standards that determine
the legality of that activity. The fact that the activity is necessary
on the military plane does not mean that it is lawful on the legal plane.
Indeed, we do not substitute our discretion for that of the military
commander's, as far as it concerns military considerations. That is
his expertise. We examine the results on the plane of the humanitarian
law. That is our expertise.
Id, paragraph 9.
This oversight applies to the case before us. The military
commander is the expert on the military aspects of the Fence's route.
We are the experts of the humanitarian aspects of the route. The military
commander can determine the geographical placement of the Fence-across
mountain or plane. This is his expertise. We review whether the military
commander's route inflicts disproportionate injury upon the local inhabitants.
This is our expertise.
From the General to the Specific
49. The key question before us is whether the route
of the Separation Fence is proportionate. The question is: is the injury
to local inhabitants by the Separation Fence proportionate, or is it
is possible to satisfy the main security concerns while establishing
a Fence route whose injury to the local inhabitants is lesser and, as
such, proportionate? The Separation Fence that is the subject of this
petition is approximately forty kilometers long. Its proportionality
varies according to local conditions. We shall examine its proportionality
according to the various orders that were issued for the construction
of different parts of the Fence. We shall examine the legality of the
orders along the route of the Fence from west to east (See the appendix
to this decision for a map of the region.) This route starts east of
the town of Maccabim and the Beit Sira village. It continues south to
the town of Mevo Choron and from there continues east to Jerusalem.
The route of the Fence continues to wind, and it divides Israeli villages
from adjacent Palestinian villages. It climbs Jebel Mukatam in order
to ensure Israeli control of it. As such, it passes the villages of
Beit Likia, Beit Anan, and Chirbet Abu A-Lahm. After that, it advances
east, separating Ma'aleh HaChamisha and Har Adar from the villages of
Katane, El Kabiba, and Bidu. The Fence continues and circles the village
of Beit Sourik, climbing northward until it reaches Route 443, which
is a major traffic route connecting Jerusalem to the center of the country.
In its final portion, it separates the villages Bidu, Beit Ajaza, and
Beit Daku from Har Shmuel, New Giv'on, and Giv'at Ze'ev.
Order no. Tav/105/03
50. This order concerns the route beginning east of
the town of Maccabim and west of the village of Beit Sira, and ending
northeast of the town of Mevo Choron. This segment was not the subject
of substantial dispute by the parties. Respondent informed us that the
northern tip of the route, which is subject to this order, as well as
the southern tip, were changed (see map submitted to us by the parties,
of March 31 2004). Thus, the injury to the nearby cultivated lands was
reduced. Petitioners raised no arguments regarding the route itself,
and the village of Beit Sira was not joined as a petitioner. Members
of the Council for Peace and Security did not mention this order in
their affidavits. In light of all this, to the extent that it relates
to this order, the petition is denied.
Order Tav/104/03; Order Tav/103/03; Order Tav/84/03
(The Western Part of the Order)
51. These orders apply to more than ten kilometers
of the Fence's route. This segment of the route surrounds the high mountain
range of Jebel Mukatam. This ridge topographically controls its immediate
and general surroundings. It towers over Route 443 which passes north
of it, connecting Jerusalem to Modi'in. The route of the obstacle passes
from southwest of the village of Beit Likia, southwest of the village
of Beit Anan, and west of the village of Chirbet Abu A-Lahm. Respondent
explains that the objective of this route is to keep the mountain area
under Israeli control. This will ensure an advantage for the armed forces,
who will topographically control the area of the Fence, and it will
decrease the capability of others to attack those traveling on Route
443.
52. Petitioners painted a severe picture of how the
Fence's route will damage the villages along it. As far as the Beit
Anan village (population: 5500) is concerned, 6,000 dunams of village
land will be affected by the fact that the obstacle passes over them.
7,500 dunams of land will end up beyond the Fence (6000 dunams of which
are cultivated land). Ninety percent of the cultivated land seized and
affected is planted with olive and fruit trees. 18,000 trees will be
uprooted. 70,000 trees will be separated from their owners. The livelihood
of hundreds of families will be hurt. This damage is especially severe
in light of the high unemployment rate in that area (approaching 75%).
As far as the Beit Likia village is concerned (population: 8000), 2100
dunams will be affected by the route of the obstacle. Five thousand
dunams will end up beyond the Fence (3000 dunams of which are cultivated
land).
53. Respondents dispute this presentation of the facts.
They argue that the extent of damage is less than that described by
petitioners. As for the village of Beit Anan, 410 dunams (as opposed
to 600) will be seized, and 1245 cultivated dunams will end up on the
other side of the Fence (as opposed to 6000). Respondents further argue
that 3500 trees will be uprooted (as opposed to 18,000). However, even
according to respondent, the damage to the villages is great, despite
certain changes that respondents made while the petition was being heard
in order to relieve the local inhabitants.
54. Petitioners attached the affidavit of the Council
for Peace and Security (signed by Major General (res.) D. Rothchild,
Major General (res.) A. Adan (Bren), Commissioner (ret.) S. Giv'oli,
and Colonel (res.) Y. Dvir), which relates to this segment. According
to the affidavit, the seizure of Jebel Mukatam does not fit the principles
established for the building of the Fence. Effective light weapon fire
from Jebel Mukatam upon Route 443 or upon any Israeli town is not possible.
Moving the Fence three kilometers south, adjacent to the Green Line,
will place it upon topographically controlling territory that is easy
to defend. They argue that not every controlling hill is necessary for
the defense of the Separation Fence. Jebel Mukatam is one example of
that. Moreover, the current route will necessitate the construction
and maintenance of agricultural gates, which will provoke unnecessary
and dangerous fury from the local population, embittered by the damage
inflicted upon them. Petitioners presented two alternate proposals for
the route in this area. One passes next to the border of the area of
Judea and Samaria. This route greatly reduces the damage to the villages
of Beit Likia and Beit Anan. The route of the other proposal passes
near the Green Line, south of the route of the first proposal. This
route does not affect the lands of these villages or the lands of the
village of Chirbet Abu A-Lahm.
55. Respondent stated, in his response to the affidavit
of members of the Council for Peace and Security, that he did not intend
to change the route of the Fence that goes through this area. He claims
that IDF's control of Jebel Mukatam is a matter of decisive military
importance. It is not just another topographically controlling hill,
but rather a mountain overlooking the entire area. He reiterated his
position that the current route would decrease the possibility of attack
on travelers on Route 443, and that erecting the obstacle upon the mountain
will prevent its taking by terrorists. Respondent surveyed the relevant
area, and came to the conclusion that the route proposed by petitioners
is considerably topographically and thus strategically inferior and
will endanger the forces that will patrol along the Fence. In order
to reduce the injury to the local inhabitants, the military commander
decided that agricultural gates be built. One daytime gate will be built
south of Beit Likia. Another daytime gate will be built three kilometers
from it (as the crow flies), north of Beit Anan. Specific requests by
farmers will be examined on their merits. Owners of land seized will
be compensated, and olive trees will be transferred rather than uprooted.
The route has even taken into consideration buildings built illegally
by Palestinian inhabitants in the area, since there was not enough time
to take the legal steps necessary for their demolition. We were further
informed that it was decided, during the survey that took place onsite
with the participation of petitioners' counsel, to make a local correction
in the route of the obstacle, adjacent to the village of Chirbet Abu
A-Lahm, in order to distance the obstacle from the houses of the village.
We originally prohibited (on February 29, 2004) works to erect the Separation
Fence in the part of the route to which the abovementioned orders apply.
During the hearing (on March 31, 2004), we ordered the cancellation
of the temporary injunction with respect to the segment between the
Beit Chanan riverbed and the ascent to Jebel Mukatam.
56. From a military standpoint, there is a dispute
between experts regarding the route that will realize the security objective.
As we have noted, this places a heavy burden on petitioners who ask
that we prefer the opinion of the experts of the Council for Peace and
Security over the approach of the military commander. The petitioners
have not carried this burden. We cannot - as those who are not experts
in military affairs - determine whether military considerations justify
laying the Separation Fence north of Jebel Mukatam (as per the stance
of the military commander) or whether there is no need for the Separation
Fence to include it (as per the stance of petitioners' and the Council
for Peace and Security). Thus, we cannot take any position regarding
whether the considerations of the military commander-who wishes to hold
topographically controlling hills and thus prevent "flat-trajectory"
fire-are correct, militarily speaking, or not. In this state of affairs,
there is no justification for our interference in the route of the Separation
Fence from a military perspective.
57. Is the injury to the local inhabitants by the Separation
Fence in this segment, according to the route determined by respondent,
proportionate? Our answer to this question necessitates examination
of the route's proportionality, using the three subtests. The first
subtest examines whether there is a rational connection between the
objective of the Separation Fence and its established route. Our answer
is that such a rational connection exists. We are aware that the members
of the Council for Peace and Security claim, in their expert opinion,
that such a connection does not exist, and that the route proposed by
them is the one that satisfies the "rational connection" test.
As we stated, we cannot accept this position. By our very ruling that
the route of the Fence passes the test of military rationality, we have
also held that it realizes the military objective of the Separation
Fence.
58. The second subtest examines whether it is possible
to attain the security objectives of the Separation Fence in a way that
causes less injury to the local inhabitants. There is no doubt - and
the issue is not even disputed - that the route suggested by the members
of the Council for Peace and Security causes less injury to the local
inhabitants than the injury caused by the route determined by the military
commander. The question is whether the former route satisfies the security
objective of the security Fence to the same extent as the route set
out by the military commander. We cannot answer this question in the
affirmative. The position of the military commander is that the route
of the Separation Fence, as proposed by members of the Council for Peace
and Security, grants less security than his proposed route. By our very
determination that we shall not intervene in that position, we have
also determined that there is no alternate route that fulfills, to a
similar extent, the security needs while causing lesser injury to the
local inhabitants. In this state of affairs, our conclusion is that
the second subtest of proportionality, regarding the issue before us,
is satisfied.
59. The third subtest examines whether the injury caused
to the local inhabitants by the construction of the Separation Fence
stands in proper proportion to the security benefit from the Security
Fence in its chosen route. This is the proportionate means test (or
proportionality "in the narrow sense"). Concerning this topic,
Professor Y. Zamir wrote:
The third element is proportionality itself. According
to this element, it is insufficient that the administrative authority
chose the proper and most moderate means for achieving the objective;
it must also weigh the benefit reaped by the public against the damage
that will be caused to the citizen by this means under the circumstances
of the case at hand. It must ask itself if, under these circumstances,
there is a proper proportion between the benefit to the public and the
damage to the citizen. The proportion between the benefit and the damage
- and it is also possible to say the proportion between means and objective
- must be proportionate.
Zamir, id., at 131.
This subtest weighs the costs against the benefits.
See Stamka, at 776. According to this subtest, a decision of an administrative
authority must reach a reasonable balance between communal needs and
the damage done to the individual. The objective of the examination
is to determine whether the severity of the damage to the individual
and the reasons brought to justify it stand in proper proportion to
each other. This judgment is made against the background of the general
normative structure of the legal system, which recognizes human rights
and the necessity of ensuring the provision of the needs and welfare
of the local inhabitants, and which preserves "family honour and
rights" (Regulation 46 of the Hague Regulations). All these are
protected in the framework of the humanitarian provisions of the Hague
Regulations and the Geneva Convention. The question before us is: does
the severity of the injury to local inhabitants, by the construction
of the Separation Fence along the route determined by the military commander,
stand in reasonable (proper) proportion to the security benefit from
the construction of the Fence along that route?
60. Our answer is that there relationship between the
injury to the local inhabitants and the security benefit from the construction
of the Separation Fence along the route, as determined by the military
commander, is not proportionate. The route disrupts the delicate balance
between the obligation of the military commander to preserve security
and his obligation to provide for the needs of the local inhabitants.
This approach is based on the fact that the route which the military
commander established for the Security Fence - which separates the local
inhabitants from their agricultural lands - injures the local inhabitants
in a severe and acute way, while violating their rights under humanitarian
international law. Here are the facts: more than 13,000 farmers (falahin)
are cut off from thousands of dunams of their land and from tens of
thousands of trees which are their livelihood, and which are located
on the other side of the Separation Fence. No attempt was made to seek
out and provide them with substitute land, despite our oft repeated
proposals on that matter. The separation is not hermetic: the military
commander announced that two gates will be constructed, from each of
the two villages, to its lands, with a system of licensing. This state
of affairs injures the farmers severely, as access to their lands (early
in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening), will be subject
to restrictions inherent to a system of licensing. Such a system will
result in long lines for the passage of the farmers themselves; it will
make the passage of vehicles (which themselves require licensing and
examination) difficult, and will distance the farmer from his lands
(since only two daytime gates are planned for the entire length of this
segment of the route). As a result, the life of the farmer will change
completely in comparison to his previous life. The route of the Separation
Fence severely violates their right of property and their freedom of
movement. Their livelihood is severely impaired. The difficult reality
of life from which they have suffered (due, for example, to high unemployment
in that area) will only become more severe.
61. These injuries are not proportionate. They can
be substantially decreased by an alternate route, either the route presented
by the experts of the Council for Peace and Security, or another route
set out by the military commander. Such an alternate route exists. It
is not a figment of the imagination. It was presented before us. It
is based on military control of Jebel Mukatam, without "pulling"
the Separation Fence to that mountain. Indeed, one must not forget that,
even after the construction of the Separation Fence, the military commander
will continue to control the area east of it. In the opinion of the
military commander - which we assume to be correct, as the basis of
our review - he will provide less security in that area. However, the
security advantage reaped from the route as determined by the military
commander, in comparison to the proposed route, does not stand in any
reasonable proportion to the injury to the local inhabitants caused
by this route. Indeed, the real question in the "relative"
examination of the third proportionality subtest is not the choice between
constructing a Separation Fence which brings security but injures the
local inhabitants, or not constructing a Separation Fence, and not injuring
the local inhabitants. The real question is whether the security benefit
reaped by the acceptance of the military commander's position (that
the Separation Fence should surround Jebel Mukatam) is proportionate
to the additional injury resulting from his position (with the Fence
separating local inhabitants from their lands). Our answer to this question
is that the military commander's choice of the route of the Separation
Fence is disproportionate. The gap between the security provided by
the military commander's approach and the security provided by the alternate
route is minute, as compared to the large difference between a Fence
that separates the local inhabitants from their lands, and a Fence which
does not separate the two (or which creates a separation which is smaller
and possible to live with). Indeed, we accept that security needs are
likely to necessitate an injury to the lands of the local inhabitants
and to their ability to use them. International humanitarian law on
one hand, however, and the basic principles of Israeli administrative
law on the other, require making every possible effort to ensure that
injury will be proportionate. Where construction of the Separation Fence
demands that inhabitants be separated from their lands, access to these
lands must be ensured, in order to minimize the damage to the extent
possible.
62. We have reached the conclusion that the route of
the Separation Fence, which separates the villages of Beit Likia and
Beit Anan from the lands which provide the villagers with their livelihood,
is not proportionate. This determination affects order Tav/103/03, which
applies directly to the territory of the mountain itself, and leads
to its annulment. This determination also affects order Tav/104/03 which
applies to the route west of it, which turns in towards the village
of Beit Likia, in order to reach the mountain. The same goes for the
western part of order Tav/84/03, which descends from the mountain in
a southeasterly direction. The eastern part of the latter order was
not a matter of significant dispute between the parties, but as a result
of the annulment of the aforementioned orders, it should be examined
anew.
Order no. Tav/107/30 (Until the Hill Northeast of Har
Adar)
63. This order applies to the part of the Fence route
which begins south of the village of Katane and ends up east of the
town of Har Adar. Its length is about four and one half kilometers.
It separates between Har Adar and the villages of Katane (population:
approximately 1000), El Kabiba (population: 2000), Bidu (population:
7500) and Beit Sourik (population: 3500). Petitioners argue that the
route of this segment of the Fence will cause direct injury to 300 dunams
of the village of Katane. 5700 dunams of the village will end up on
the other side of the Fence (4000 of them cultivated lands). They further
argue that 200 dunams of the village of El Kabiba will be directly injured
by the Fence passing through them. 2500 dunams will end up on the other
side of the Fence (of which 1500 dunams are cultivated land). Indeed,
then, the Separation Fence causes severe injury to the local inhabitants.
The Fence cuts the residents of the villages off from their lands, and
makes their access to it - access upon which the livelihood of many
depends - difficult. Study of the map attached by respondents (response
of March 10 2004) reveals that along this part of the route, two gates
will be built. One gate can only be used by pedestrian traffic. It is
located at the western edge of this part of the route (south of the
village of Katane). A second gate is a daytime gate located south of
the hill which topographically controls the town of Har Adar from the
northwest, and west of the village of Bidu. Respondent argues that the
gates will allow the passage of farmers to their lands. Compensation
will be paid to those whose lands are seized. Thus a proper balance
will be struck between security needs and the needs of the local population.
64. After submission of the petition and examination
of the arguments raised in it, respondents changed the route of the
Separation Fence in this area. This part of the route, which passes
north of Har Adar, will be closer to the security systems already existing
in that town. Respondents stated that, as a result of this correction,
the solution to security problems will be an inferior one, but they
will reduce the injury to the local population and provide a reasonable
level of security. Petitioners, however, claim that these changes are
insufficient. The position of the Council for Peace and Security, as
per its first affidavit (signed by Major General (res.) Avraham Adan
(Bren), Commissioner (res.) Shaul Giv'oli and Colonel (res.) Yuval Dvir),
is that the Separation Fence should be integrated into the existing
Fence of the town of Har Adar. Moving the Fence to a location adjacent
to the village of Katane (west of Har Adar) will cause severe injury
to the local inhabitants and will suffer all of the same aforementioned
problems of a Fence proximate to houses of Palestinians. Placing the
Fence side by side with the existing security systems west of Har Adar
will not increase the danger of fire upon Har Adar. That is since it
is already possible to fire upon it from the adjacent villages. Moreover,
the current route, which passes next to Palestinian buildings, will
endanger the forces patrolling along it, and will increase the concerns
regarding false alarms.
65. The military commander argued, in response, that
it is impossible to make a change in the route in the area of the village
of Katane. From the operational standpoint, the proposal will allow
terrorists free access all the way to the houses at the western edge
of Har Adar. Nor can a change be made in the route from the engineering
standpoint, since the patrol road that must pass along the Fence would
be so steep that it would not allow passage of vehicles there. Regarding
the part of the route that passes north of Har Adar, respondent agrees
that it would be possible to integrate it with the existing defense
perimeter of Har Adar (partially, in the area of the pumping facility
of the town). Respondents are not prepared to make any additional changes
to the remainder of the route in this segment. The military commander
argues, in addition, that the proposal of the Council for Peace and
Security regarding the part of the route which passes east of Har Adar
cannot be accepted. That proposal would leave a hill located northeast
of the town, which topographically controls it and the surroundings,
outside of the defended area. Nonetheless, he testified that, after
meetings with petitioners and members of the Council for Peace and Security,
it was decided that slight changes would be made in the segment which
passes alongside the northeast hill. As a result, the obstacle will
be distanced further from the road and from the homes of the local inhabitants
in the area (see para. 60 of military commander's affidavit of April
15 2004). Respondent also stated that order of seizure Tav/37/04, which
amends the route accordingly, has already been issued. In our decision
(of March 31 2004) we held that respondents shall refrain from making
irreversible changes in the segment north of Har Adar.
66. From the military standpoint, there is a dispute
between the military commander (who wishes to distance the Separation
Fence from Har Adar) and the experts of the Council for Peace and Security
(who wish to bring the Fence closer to Har Adar). In this disagreement
on military issues - and according to our approach, which gives great
weight to the position of the military commander responsible for the
security of the area - we accept the security stance of the military
commander. Against this background, the question arises: is this part
of the route of the Separation Fence proportionate?
67. Like the previous order we considered, this order
before us also passes the two first subtests of proportionality (rational
connection; the least injurious means). The key question here concerns
the third subtest (proportionality in the narrow sense). Here too, as
in the case of the previous order, the injury by the Separation Fence
to the lives of more than 3000 farmers in the villages of Katane and
El-Kabiba is severe. The rights guaranteed them by the Hague Regulations
and the Fourth Geneva Convention are violated. The delicate balance
between the military commander's obligation to provide security and
his obligation to provide for the local inhabitants is breached. The
Fence separates the inhabitants of Katane and El-Kabiba from their lands
east and west of Har Adar, while instituting a licensing regime for
passage from one side of the Fence to the other. As a result, the farmer's
way of life is impinged upon most severely. The regime of licensing
and gates, as set out by the military commander, does not remedy this
problem. The difficulties we mentioned regarding the previous order
apply here as well. As we have seen, it is possible to lessen this damage
substantially if the route of the Separation Fence passing east and
west of Har Adar is changed, reducing the area of agricultural lands
lying beyond the Fence. The security advantage (in comparison to the
possible alternate route) that the military commander wishes to achieve
is not proportionate to the severe injury to the farmers (according
to the route proposed by the military commander). On this issue, attempts
to find an appropriate solution were made during the hearing of the
petition. These attempts must continue, in order to find a route which
will fulfill the demands of proportionality. As a result of such a route,
it may be that there will be no escaping some level of injury to the
inhabitants of Katane and El-Kabiba, which should be reduced to the
extent possible. As such, since the parties must continue to discuss
this issue, we have not seen fit to make a final order regarding Tav/107/03.
The Eastern Tip of Order no. Tav/107/03 and Order no.
Tav/108/03
68. This order applies to the five and a half kilometer
long segment of the route of the obstacle which passes west and southeast
of the villages of Beit Sourik (population: 3500) and Bidu (population:
7500). Investigation into this part of the route, as published in the
original order, reveals that the injury to these villages is great.
From petitioners' data - which was not rebutted by respondents - it
appears that 500 dunams of the village of Beit Sourik will be directly
damaged by the positioning of the obstacle. 6000 additional dunams will
remain beyond it (5000 dunams of which are cultivated land), including
three greenhouses. Ten thousand trees will be uprooted and the inhabitants
of the villages will be cut off from 25,000 thousand olive trees, 25,000
fruit trees and 5400 fig trees, as will as from many other agricultural
crops. These numbers do not capture the severity of the damage. We must
take into consideration the total consequences of the obstacle for the
way of life in this area. The original route as determined in the order
leaves the village of Beit Sourik bordered tightly by the obstacle on
its west, south, and east sides. This is a veritable chokehold, which
will severely stifle daily life. The fate of the village of Bidu is
not much better. The obstacle surrounds the village from the east and
the south, and impinges upon lands west of it. From a study of the map
attached by the respondents (to their response of March 10, 2004) it
appears that, on this segment of the route, one seasonal gate will be
established south of the village of Beit Sourik. In addition, a checkpoint
will be positioned on the road leading eastward from Bidu.
69. In addition to the parties' arguments before us,
a number of residents of the town of Mevasseret Zion, south of the village
of Beit Sourik, asked to present their position. They pointed out the
good neighborly relations between Israelis and Palestinians in the area
and expressed concern that the route of the Fence, which separates the
Palestinian inhabitants from their lands, will end those relations.
They argue that the Palestinians' access to their lands will be subject
to a series of hindrances and violations of their dignity, and that
this access will even be prevented completely. On the other hand, Mr.
Efraim Halevi asked to present his position, which represents the opinion
of other residents of the town of Mevasseret Tzion. He argues that moving
the route of the Fence southward, such that it approaches Mevasseret
Tzion, will endanger its residents.
70. As with the previous orders, here too we take the
route of the Separation Fence determined by the military commander as
the basis of our examination. We do so, since we grant great weight
to the stance of the official who is responsible for security. The question
which arises before us is: is the damage caused to the local inhabitants
by this part of the Separation Fence route proportionate? Here too,
the first two subtests of the principle of proportionality are satisfied.
Our doubt relates to the satisfaction of the third subtest. On this
issue, the fact is that the damage from the segment of the route before
us is most severe. The military commander himself is aware of that.
During the hearing of the petition, a number of changes in the route
were made in order to ease the situation of the local inhabitants. He
mentioned that these changes provide an inferior solution to security
problems, but will allow the injury to the local inhabitants to be reduced,
and will allow a reasonable level of security. However, even after these
changes, the injury is still very severe. The rights of the local inhabitants
are violated. Their way of life is completely undermined. The obligations
of the military commander, pursuant to the humanitarian law enshrined
in the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention, are not being
satisfied.
71. The Council for Peace and Security proposed an
alternate route, whose injury to the agricultural lands is much smaller.
It is proposed that the Separation Fence be distanced both from the
east of the village of Beit Sourik and from its west. Thus, the damage
to the agricultural lands will be substantially reduced. We are convinced
that the security advantage achieved by the route, as determined by
the military commander, in comparison with the alternate route, is in
no way proportionate to the additional injury to the lives of the local
inhabitants caused by this order. There is no escaping the conclusion
that, for reasons of proportionality, this order before us must be annulled.
The military commander must consider the issue again. He must create
an arrangement which will avoid this severe injury to the local inhabitants,
even at the cost of a certain reduction of the security demands. The
proposals of the Council for Peace and Security - whose expertise is
recognized by the military commander - may be considered. Other routes,
of course, may be considered. This is the military commander's affair,
subject to the condition that the location of the route free the village
of Beit Sourik (and to a lesser extent, the village of Bidu) from the
current chokehold and allow the inhabitants of the villages access to
the majority of their agricultural lands.
Order no. Tav/109/103
72. This order applies to the route of the Separation
Fence east of the villages of Bidu, Beit Ajaza and Beit Daku. Its length
is approximately five kilometers. As we take notice of its southern
tip, its central part, and its northern part, different parts of it
raise different problems. The southern tip of the order directly continues
from the route of order no. Tav/108/03, to the area passing west of
the town of Har Shmuel. This part of the Fence crosses to the east of
the Bidu village, and it is the direct continuation of the part of the
Separation Fence considered by us in the framework of order no. Tav/108/03.
The fate of this part of order no. Tav/109/03 is the same fate as that
of order no. Tav/108/03. As such, the Separation Fence will be moved
eastward, so that the inhabitants of the village of Bidu will be able
to continue the agricultural cultivation of the part of their lands
east of this part of the Fence.
73. The central part of the Separation Fence in this
order passes west of the town of Har Shmuel and east of the village
of Bidu, until it reaches New Giv'on, which is east of it, and the village
of Beit Ajaza which is west of it. The Separation Fence separates these
two towns. The route causes injury to the agricultural lands of the
village of Bidu and to the access to them. The route also impinges upon
the lands of the village of Beit Ajaza. We were informed that 350 dunams
of this village will be damaged by the construction of the obstacle.
2400 dunams of the village will be beyond it (2000 dunams of it cultivated
land). In addition, the route cuts off the access roads that connect
the villages to the urban center of Ramallah and to East Jerusalem In
the affidavit of the Council for Peace and Security (of April 4 2004)
it was mentioned that the current route will allow the local inhabitants
to reach Ramallah only via a long and difficult road. Petitioners proposed
that the route of the Fence pass adjacent to the town of Har Shmuel,
to the road connecting the Ramot neighborhood to Giv'at Ze' ev, and
to the southern part of the town of New Giv'on. Thus, free access to
the agricultural lands in the area will be possible. Petitioners also
proposed pressing the route up against the western part of New Giv'on,
and thus distancing it a bit from the village of Beit Ajaza.
74. The route proposed by petitioners is unacceptable
to respondent. He argues that it does not take into account the real
threat of weapon fire upon Israeli towns and upon the road connecting
Ramot with Giv'at Ze'ev. Neither does it consider the need to establish
a security zone that will increase the preparation time available to
the armed forces in the event of an infiltration. Respondent argues
that pushing the Separation Fence up against the Israeli towns will
substantially endanger those towns. The military commander is aware
of this, and therefore testified before us that a gate will be established
at that location in order to allow the inhabitants' passage to their
lands. East of the village of Bidu, a permanent checkpoint will be established,
which will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in order to allow
the preservation of the existing fabric of life in the area and ease
the access to the villages. It was further decided to take steps which
will improve the roads connecting the villages to one another, in order
to allow the continued relations between these villages, and between
them and Ramallah. In addition, respondent is examining the possibility
of paving a road which will allow free and fast access from the villages
to the direction of Ramallah. In his affidavit (of April 20 2004), respondent
testified (paragraph 22 of the affidavit) that, until the completion
of said road, he will not prevent passage of the inhabitants of the
villages in this petition to the direction of Ramallah; rather, access
toward the city will be allowed, according to the current arrangements.
75. According to our approach, great weight must be
given to the military stance of the commander of the area. Petitioners
did not carry their burden and did not convince us that we should prefer
petitioners' military stance (supported in part by the expert opinion
of members of the Society for Peace and Security) over the stance of
the commander of the area. We assume, therefore, that the position of
the commander of the area, as expressed in this part of order no. Tav/109/03,
is correct, and it forms the basis for our examination.
76. Is the damage caused to the local inhabitants by
this part of the route of the Separation Fence proportionate? Like the
orders we considered up to this point, the question is: is the security
advantage gained from the route, as determined by the commander of the
area, compared to other possible alternate routes, proportionate to
the additional injury to the local inhabitants caused by this route,
compared to the alternate routes? Here, as well, the picture we have
already dealt with reappears. The route of the Fence, as determined
by the military commander, separates local inhabitants from their lands.
The proposed licensing regime cannot substantially solve the difficulties
raised by this segment of the Fence. All this constitutes a severe violation
of the rights of the local inhabitants. The humanitarian provisions
of the Hague Regulations and of the Fourth Geneva Convention are not
satisfied. The delicate balance between the security of the area and
the lives of the local inhabitants, for which the commander of the area
is responsible, is upset. There is no escaping, therefore, the annulment
of the order, to the extent that it applies to the central part of the
Fence. The military commander must consider alternatives which, even
if they result in a lower level of security, will cause a substantial
(even if not complete) reduction of the damage to the lives of the local
inhabitants.
77. We shall now turn to the northern part of order
no. Tav/109/03. The route of the gate at this part begins in the territory
separating New Giv'on from the village of Beit Ajaza. It continues northwest
to the eastern part of the village of Beit Daku. In our decision (of
March 31 2004), we determined that respondents shall refrain from making
irreversible changes in the segment between Beit Tira and North Beit
Daku. There is no dispute between the parties regarding the part of
the Fence which separates New Giv' on and Beit Ajaza. This part of the
Fence is legal. The dispute arises regarding the part of the Separation
Fence that lies beyond it.
78. Petitioners argue that this part of the route of
the Separation Fence severely injures the local inhabitants of the village
of Beit Daku. The data in their arguments shows that 300 dunams of village
lands will be directly damaged by the passage of the obstacle through
them. 4000 dunams will remain beyond the obstacle (2500 of them cultivated).
The affidavit submitted by the Council for Peace and Security states
that the route of the obstacle should be moved a few hundred meters
northeast of the planned location, in order to reduce the effect on
local inhabitants. Petitioners presented two alternate routes for the
obstacle in this segment. One route passes through the area intended
for expansion of the town of Giv'at Ze'ev known by the nickname of "The
Gazelles' Basin," where a new neighborhood is already being built.
A second alternate route draws the obstacle closer to its present route,
northeast of it.
79. Respondent objects to the route proposed by petitioners
and by the Society for Peace and Security. He explains that there is
great importance to the control of a high hill located east of the village
of Beit Daku. This hill topographically controls New Giv'on, Giv'at
Ze'ev and "The Gazelles' Basin." The route of the Fence was
planned such that it would not obstruct the road connecting the villages
of Beit Daku and Beit Ajaza. In addition, the route passes over ridges
of the hill which are of relatively moderate gradient, whereas the other
ridges which descend from it are steep. In respondent's opinion, moving
the Fence northwest of its current route will allow terrorist activity
from the high hill, and thus endanger the Israeli towns and the army
forces patrolling along the obstacle. In addition, the fact that the
route proposed by petitioners is steeper raises complex engineering
problems, whose solution will demand multiple bends in the route that
will seriously damage the crops located at the foot of the hill.
80. As with other segments of the Separation Fence,
here too we begin from the assumption that the military-security considerations
of the military commander are reasonable, and that there is no justification
for our intervention. The question before us, therefore, is: is the
route of the Separation Fence, which actualizes these considerations,
proportionate? The main difficulty is the severe injury to the local
inhabitants of Beit Daku. The Fence separates them from considerable
parts (4000 dunams, 2500 of which are cultivated) of their lands. Thus,
a disproportionate injury is caused to the lives of the people in this
location. We accept - due to the military character of the consideration
- that the high hill east of the village of Daku must be under IDF control.
We also accept that "The Gazelles' Basin" is a part of Giv'at
Ze'ev and needs defense just like the rest of that town. Despite all
that, we are of the opinion that the military commander must map out
an alternate arrangement - one that will both satisfy the majority of
the security considerations and also mitigate, to the extent possible,
the separation of the local inhabitants of the village of Daku from
their agricultural lands. Such alternate routes were presented before
us. We shall not take any stand whatsoever regarding a particular alternate
route. The military commander must determine an alternative which will,
provide a fitting, if not ideal, solution for the security considerations,
and also allow proportionate access of Beit Daku villagers to their
lands.
Order no. Tav/110/03
81. This order continues the route of the Separation
Fence northwest of Beit Daku. This part starts out adjacent to the east
part of the village of A-Tira, and ends up at route 443, east of Beit
Horon. The village of A-Tira is not a party to the petition before us,
and we will not deal with its inhabitants. As far as it affects the
lands of Beit Daku, this order must go the way of Tav/109/03, which
we have already discussed.
Overview of the Proportionality of the Injury Caused
by the Orders
82. Having completed the examination of the proportionality
of each order separately, it is appropriate that we lift our gaze and
look out over the proportionality of the entire route of the part of
the Separation Fence which is the subject of this petition. The length
of the part of the Separation Fence to which these orders apply is approximately
forty kilometers. It causes injury to the lives of 35,000 local inhabitants.
4000 dunams of their lands are taken up by the route of the Fence itself,
and thousands of olive trees growing along the route itself are uprooted.
The Fence separates the eight villages in which the local inhabitants
live from more than 30,000 dunams of their lands. The great majority
of these lands are cultivated, and they include tens of thousands of
olive trees, fruit trees and other agricultural crops. The licensing
regime which the military commander wishes to establish cannot prevent
or substantially decrease the extent of the severe injury to the local
farmers. Access to the lands depends upon the possibility of crossing
the gates, which are very distant from each other and not always open.
Security checks, which are likely to prevent the passage of vehicles
and which will naturally cause long lines and many hours of waiting,
will be performed at the gates. These do not go hand in hand with the
farmer's ability to work his land. There will inevitably be areas where
the Security Fence will have to separate the local inhabitants from
their lands. In these areas, the commander should allow passage which
will reduce, to the extent possible, the injury to the farmers.
83. During the hearings, we asked respondent whether
it would be possible to compensate petitioners by offering them other
lands in exchange for the lands that were taken to build the Fence and
the lands that they will be separated from. We did not receive a satisfactory
answer. This petition concerns farmers that make their living from the
land. Taking petitioners' lands obligates the respondent, under the
circumstances, to attempt to find other lands in exchange for the lands
taken from the petitioners. Monetary compensation may only be offered
if there are no substitute lands.
84. The injury caused by the Separation Fence is not
restricted to the lands of the inhabitants or to their access to these
lands. The injury is of far wider scope. It is the fabric of life of
the entire population. In many locations, the Separation Fence passes
right by their homes. In certain places (like Beit Sourik), the Separation
Fence surrounds the village from the west, the south and the east. The
Fence directly impedes the access of the local inhabitants to the urban
centers (Bir Nabbala and Ramallah). This access is impeded even without
the Separation Fence. This difficulty is increased sevenfold by the
construction of the Fence.
85. The task of the military commander is not easy.
He must delicately balance security needs with the needs of the local
inhabitants. We were impressed by the sincere desire of the military
commander to find this balance, and his willingness to change the original
plan in order to reach a more proportionate solution. We found no stubbornness
on his part. Despite all this, we are of the opinion that the balance
determined by the military commander is not proportionate. There is
no escaping, therefore, a renewed examination of the route of the Fence,
according to the standards of proportionality that we have set out.
Epilogue
86. Our task is difficult. We are members of Israeli
society. Although we are sometimes in an ivory tower, that tower is
in the heart of Jerusalem, which is not infrequently struck by ruthless
terror. We are aware of the killing and destruction wrought by terror
against the state and its citizens. As any other Israelis, we too recognize
the need to defend the country and its citizens against the wounds inflicted
by terror. We are aware that in the short term, this judgment will not
make the state's struggle against those rising up against it easier.
But we are judges. When we sit in judgment, we are subject to judgment.
We act according to our best conscience and understanding. Regarding
the state's struggle against the terror that rises up against it, we
are convinced that at the end of the day, a struggle according to the
law will strengthen her power and her spirit. There is no security without
law. Satisfying the provisions of the law is an aspect of national security.
I discussed this point in HCJ 5100/94 The Public Committee against Torture
in Israel v. The Government of Israel, at 845:
We are aware that this decision does make it easier
to deal with that reality. This is the destiny of a democracy-she does
not see all means as acceptable, and the ways of her enemies are not
always open before her. A democracy must sometimes fight with one arm
tied behind her back. Even so, a democracy has the upper hand. The rule
of law and individual liberties constitute an important aspect of her
security stance. At the end of the day, they strengthen her spirit and
this strength allows her to overcome her difficulties.
That goes for this case as well. Only a Separation
Fence built on a base of law will grant security to the state and its
citizens. Only a separation route based on the path of law will lead
the state to the security so yearned for.
The result is that we reject the petition against order
no. Tav/105/03. We accept the petition against orders Tav/104/03, Tav/103/03,
Tav/84/03 (western part), Tav/107/03, Tav/108/03, Tav/109/03, and Tav/110/03
(to the extent that it applies to the lands of Beit Daku), meaning that
these orders are nullified, since their injury to the local inhabitants
is disproportionate.
Respondents will pay 20,000 NIS in petitioners' costs.
Vice President E. Mazza
I concur.
Justice M. Cheshin
I concur.
Held, as stated in the opinion of President A. Barak.
June 30, 2004