Court Rejects Appeal by Hebron Arabs for Eviction of Jewish Settlers from Former Hadassah Building T

— The Supreme Court yesterday rejected an appeal by 16 Arab residents of Hebron for the eviction of Jewish settlers of nearby Kiryat Arba from the former Hadassah building they have been occupying for nearly two years. The appellants contended that the settlers had no legal right to occupy the building and charged that they were harassing Arabs in the neighborhood.

Justice Miriam Ben Porat found that most of the complaints contained in the appeal were without foundation. Nevertheless, the high court’s decision referred specifically to the promise by the Military Government that appropriate action would be taken to see to it that there is no harassment. The court said it rejected the appeal on the understanding that such action would be taken.

It accepted a statement by counsel for the State that the settlers were living in the building with the government’s approval. The building is legally under the control of the Custodian for Deserted Property, a government agency. Ben Porat stated that in the absence of a more privileged claimant, there was no cause to evict the settlers.

The appellants included Mustapha Abdul Nabi Natshe, acting Mayor of Hebron. He told reporters that he was disappointed by the ruling but satisfied that the “plight of Hebron” received public attention. The appeal had charged that previous complaints of harassment by the settlers made to the Military Government had gone unheeded.

Felicia Langer attorney for the appellants, said she was satisfied that, at least, the court made its position clear on the harassment of the local population and that such incidents would cease.