A state claiming to be democratic and enlightened does not issue military orders to deport peace activists, who wish to protest against the iniquities of the occupation.
The Israel Defense Forces top brass did not wait for the cabinet’s decision regarding the report issued this week by the Edmond Levy committee. (The report ruled that the entire West Bank is not occupied territory and therefore rendered the Oslo Accords null and void.)
GOC Central Command Nitzan Alon has signed an order enabling the Immigration Police to operate in the occupied territories, including Area A (which is under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority). Chaim Levinson reported in Friday’s Haaretz that the Immigration Police are permitted to search Palestinians’ houses and detain any person the officer has “reasonable cause” to suspect of being there without a permit.
The IDF spokesman commented that the order authorizes the officers to transfer foreigners staying in the territories illegally (according to Israeli law) to Israel’s territory for the continuation of law enforcement procedures in their case.