Court ruling: Political reactions

The High Court of Justice's decision Thursday that the Disengagement Law is completely within the law and that the Gaza Strip and West Bank are not included within Israel's borders caused a flurry of reactions from both opponents and proponents of the withdrawal.

"By approving the compensation law the Supreme Court has given legitimacy to ethnic cleansing and we hope this will serve as a basis for the transfer of Arabs back to their home countries," said David Ha'ivri - head of the right-wing movement Revava.

Yahad MK Haim Oron, a member of the committee that drafted the bill, said the decision has given more legitimacy to the legality of the disengagement plan. "Those who respect democracy must accept the right of the supreme court to determine the constitutionality of the Knesset's laws."

MK Shaul Yahalom (National Religious Party) said the Supreme Court was falling in line with "Sharon's insane policies." Yahalom said it was too bad the court did not protect democracy and did not prove that Sharon was destroying democratic values.

MK Arieh Eldad (National Union) said the court was getting farther and farther away from justice and was sacrificing human rights and dignity on the altar of "leftist values."

MK Zehava Gal-On (Yahad) said the claims of the settlers that the disengagement plan is illegal are baseless. "This is a legitimate decision of an elected government and a sovereign Knesset which does not violate human rights."

She added that she hoped the settlers who submitted petitions would accept the decision and the plan.

Opposition leader Yosef Lapid (Shinui) said the appeal of opponents of disengagement to the court has only strengthened the constitutionality of the Law since 10 of 11 justices determined it was legal.

"All citizens of Israel know that the territories are not an integral part of the State of Israel," Dean of Haifa University Law School Prof. Ariel Bendor commented. "The government can decide to withdraw the army, and since the citizens presence there is enabled by the military's command, they may be asked to leave."

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