Comptroller to probe A-G over decision to demolish homes
Attorney-General’s Office representatives didn't answer questions about why outpost’s 5 buildings should be demolished, according to committee chairman.
By LAHAV HARKOV
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss will investigate the decisions the Attorney-General’s Office made leading to the expected demolition of the Ulpana outpost, following instructions from the Knesset State Control Committee on Wednesday.According to committee chairman Uri Ariel (National Union), the Attorney-General’s Office representatives did not answer questions in a Tuesday meeting about why they recommended the outpost’s five apartment buildings be demolished, rather than bring other precedents and legal options to prevent it.“Several MKs said in the meeting that the Attorney-General’s Office’s behavior is scandalous, and I have information that requires an investigation,” Ariel said. “Their position in the High Court case on the Ulpana hill has serious repercussions on Israeli society and similar events in the future.”In the trial dealing with the Ulpana outpost near Beit El, the High Court of Justice accepted the attorney-general’s position that it was built on private Palestinian land and must be demolished.At Tuesday’s State Control Committee meeting on the outpost’s planned demolition, several MKs demanded that the decision-making process be more transparent, and that the Attorney-General’s Office explain why it chose to recommend tearing down the homes.