(The Appeal, including background, is available at: https://civiccoalition-jerusalem.org/human-rights-resources/publications/submissions/urgent-appeal-action-0  

On Sunday, 26 January 2014, the Israeli Supreme Court sanctioned completion of the illegal section of the “Begin Highway” that cuts through the Palestinian community of Beit Safafa in occupied East Jerusalem and will create a continuous piece of highway into Jerusalem and Israel for the illegal settlements in the south of the occupied West Bank.  With this decision, the court has once more legitimized the illegitimate, exposing the deep complicity of Israeli courts in violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

This Supreme Court ruling also marks the end of Beit Safafa’s protracted legal battle to prevent the construction of the 6-lane highway through their community. The court decided that construction was legal although no detailed plan for this highway section has ever been published and no opportunity has been provided for the affected Palestinian community to present its objections.  Whereas, earlier on, the court had demanded substantive remedies to mitigate the damage caused for the inhabitants of Beit Safafa, it decided on Sunday that the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, the Ministry of Transport and the Moriah Development Company may now complete the six-lane extension without modification. 

The court ruled, however, that a detailed plan will be required to advance work on the 10-lane interchange that will connect the highway to Road 60 (Tunnel Road) leading to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the occupied West Bank.

The Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem reiterates its appeal to,

The international diplomatic community, the United Nations and governments, to terminate relations with the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem and the Ministry of Transport, and to adopt the measures required for Israel to halt construction of this illegal settlement highway and make full reparation to the inhabitants of Beit Safafa;

Private businesses to terminate all business with the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem and the Ministry of Transport, and Hyundai, JCB, Volvo and Caterpillar to ensure that their equipment is withdrawn from the construction work for this illegal highway;

Local councils, municipalities and civil society to boycott the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem until it cease all illegal settlement activity in occupied Palestinian Jerusalem.