Court Orders Settlements in the West Bank to Admit Palestinian Workers

The court has ordered settlements in the West Bank to admit Palestinian workers. In the settlement of Efrat, the entry of the workers was delayed by two months; the Palestinians petitioned the court, and the judge indicated he would side with the workers. The court mandated that settlements in the West Bank accept Palestinian workers, as reported today (Monday) by Hanan Greenwood in Israel Hayom.

"In the settlement of Efrat (disclosure: my place of residence), the entry of workers was postponed by two months due to the holiday and following protests from some of the residents.

"In the council, which anyway wanted to end the construction freeze, they agreed. The head of the council, Dovi Shefler, explains: 'Even before the elections, I made it clear that I prefer Jewish labor but that I am not willing to freeze Efrat and if there is an opportunity to build, we will not stop it just because we don’t have workers.'

However, it should be clarified that in any case, the decision was taken out of their hands: 'The statement was that the council does not have the authority to impose stricter measures than those set by the military.' To my understanding, at least in three other cases in the West Bank recently, settlements have received a similar message from the court."