30 March 1997

Yesterday, the Israeli High Court rejected a petition submitted by LAW - Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment demanding the cancellation of the demolition order against the house of the widow of the alleged suicide bomber, Musa Ghanimat.

The widow, Maysun Ghanimat, is 21 years old and the mother of four young children between the ages of 1 1/2 years and 8 years. She married Musa Ghanimat when she was fourteen years old. Since the bomb attack, Israeli soldiers sealed her house, confiscated all her money and valuables and her husband’s car, and twice interrogated her. During the interrogation, the Israeli army humiliated her and made her sit with her head uncovered. Maysun Ghanimat is not suspected of any involvement in the bombing.

Yesterday, fearing further humiliation by the Israeli army and the impending demolition of her home, Maysun Ghanimat suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized in Alya hospital in Hebron.

Despite this, the High Court, lead by High Court President Aaron Barak, ruled that the demolition of Maysun Ghanimat’s home was a legitimate form of deterrence against future “terrorist” attacks. He argued that since the intent was deterrence and not to punish the widow and her four children, the intent could be justified legally. Justice Goldberg, joined in the majority opinion.

In a surprising move, however, the third High Court judge, Justice Cheshin, dissented. He stated that he had changed his opinion on punitive house demolitions and now agreed with LAW’s contention that the demolition constituted collective punishment against innocent civilians. In his view, punitive house demolitions are anti-democratic and contrary to the humanitarian principles upon which, in his opinion, Israel was founded. He stated that innocent people, in this case a 21 year old and her four children, should not be punished for the sins of others.

Maysun Ghanimat’s home was demolished earlier this morning.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.