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Adalah Asks Israel Lands Administration Council to Cancel Decision Giving Leasing Discount to Discharged Soldiers

12/02/2003
Last week, Adalah sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, the Attorney General, the Finance Minister and the Israel Lands Administration Council (ILAC), asking that the Council cancel its decision of 22 January 2003. The letter further asked that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister not approve the decision if it is submitted to them.According to the decision, discharged Israeli army soldiers and persons who have completed 12 months of national service would be given a 90% discount on the price of leasing lands controlled by the ILAC. The lease would be granted only in towns with fewer than 500 residential units, within National Priority Areas A and B. It would require that the leaseholder begin building a home on the land within two years, and not sell the right to the land for at least five years. According to the decision, the leaseholder must have been discharged from the army, or have completed national service, within the last five years.

Last week, Adalah sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, the Attorney General, the Finance Minister and the Israel Lands Administration Council (ILAC), asking that the Council cancel its decision of 22 January 2003. The letter further asked that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister not approve the decision if it is submitted to them.

According to the decision, discharged Israeli army soldiers and persons who have completed 12 months of national service would be given a 90% discount on the price of leasing lands controlled by the ILAC. The lease would be granted only in towns with fewer than 500 residential units, within National Priority Areas A and B. It would require that the leaseholder begin building a home on the land within two years, and not sell the right to the land for at least five years. According to the decision, the leaseholder must have been discharged from the army, or have completed national service, within the last five years.

For historical and political reasons, Palestinian citizens of Israel do not serve in the Israeli army. In the letter, Adalah Staff Attorney Suhad Bishara argued that the ILAC's decision discriminates against Palestinian citizens of Israel on the basis of their national belonging. As they are excluded from the group that would enjoy the proposed benefits, their rights to equality and to housing are seriously harmed. The principle of equality, Adalah noted, is a constitutional principle which was given greater status following the enactment of the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty (1992).

Adalah also argued that the ILAC's decision is highly inappropriate. The housing situation of Palestinian citizens of Israel is extremely poor, characterized by overcrowding and insufficient land available for building. The housing problem is further complicated by the fact that Arab towns in Israel consistently rank lowest in the country on socio-economic indices, and have the highest rates of unemployment. Adalah asked in the letter that measures be taken to alleviate these unacceptable conditions.

In addition, Adalah emphasized that the Absorption of Demobilized Soldiers Law (1994) gives numerous benefits and privileges to discharged soldiers, including housing and mortgage grants and awards. Adalah argued that this law should preclude the granting of any additional benefits, according to the criterion of army service.

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