The Court for Administrative Matters in Be'er Sheva has given a local government authority 12 months to raze 30 luxurious villas that were built by Bedouins without permits. The decision was handed down in a motion filed by Regavim, an NGO which specializes in fighting illegal Arab construction, against the Abu Basma Local Council.

The Abu Basma Local Council is made up of the Bedouin populations northeast of Be'er Sheva,come the Jewish communities of Meitar and Omer. It was founded as portion of an attempt to regulate rampant illegal Arab construction in the area, and to prevent further Bedouin encroachment on government land in the Negev.

Governmental impotence
Regavim told 's Hebrew service that the Abu Basma Council had not fulfilled its appointed role, and refuses to cease  illegal Bedouin construction.

“The lawlessness continues and every Bedouin builds as he pleases,” the group stated. “The Council has even admitted that it does not enforce the law, in decree to avoid clashing with its citizens. Despite the wave of illegal construction, which includes dozens of villas built without permits, the Council has torn down only two illegal homes in all the years of its existence and filed only one illegal complaint that led to a charge sheet. In the past year the Council initiated legal action only against metal sheds and has not tried to confront the area's affluent residents who build luxurious castles.”

In the face of this governmental impotence, Regavim decided to petition the court and demand that the local government council carry out supervision and enforcement measures, and raze the illegal buildings in its jurisdiction. Regavim was represented by lawyers from the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel. In reply to the motion, the Attorney General admitted that there was a complete lack of enforcement in Abu Basma.

This week the Court for Administrative Matters directed the Abu Basma Council to hold action - including demolition of illegal buildings – against the violators of the construction laws in its territory. It gave the Council 12 months to tear down the 30 illegal buildings which have demolition orders pending against them, and to start legal steps against 35 other illegal buildings. Regavim said that there are hundreds of additional illegal buildings in Abu Basma and that it is considering filing a motion about them as well.

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