Israel to Consider Return of Planning Autonomy to Palestinian Communities

Israeli High Court of Justice reportedly is set to hear the plea on returning planning autonomy to the Palestinian communities in Area C.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Israeli High Court of Justice is set to hear the plea Sunday on returning planning autonomy to the Palestinian communities in Area C, which is now fully controlled by Israel, Haaretz reported.

The petition, backed both by Israeli and Palestinian rights groups, was submitted by West Bank village Dirat Rafa’aya in April 2011. The document, addressed to the Israel Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces, demands to restore local and district planning committees in the West Bank which existed before Israel occupied the territories in 1967.

The activists who filed the petition claim that Palestinians’ rights on the occupied territories are infringed, with Israeli side largely controlling the construction activities.

The steps proposed after the initial case hearing in April 2014 called for Palestinians’ greater involvement but left key decision-making options to Israel. The activists rejected the proposals, saying they would not help to change the situation.