Israel's High Court of Justice issued an injunction Thursday temporarily freezing the demolition of the homes belonging to the families of Palestinians who allegedly carried out the attacks that killed Malahi Rosenfeld, Danny Gonen and Eitam and Naama Henkin.
The injunction was issued in response to a petition filed to the High Court calling to prevent the home demolitions. The injunction is a temporary order, in effect pending the court's hearing of the state's response to the petition.
The demolition was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday, but will remain frozen pending the court's decision.
Likud Minister Ze'ev Elkin called on the High Court "not to drag its feet and to immediately hold the discussion on demolishing the terrorists' homes which were stopped today."
Elkin argued that "High Court justices as well need to understand that we our in the midst of a war against terror and a democracy that doesn't know how to defend itself cannot be victorious in such a war."
He said that "preventing the next terror attack by destroying terrorists' homes and creating deterrence is the order of the day and it cannot be that the High Court jams sticks into the wheels of cabinet decisions."
Last week, the cabinet's decision to expedite home demolitions got underway. Security forces arrived at the homes of the Palestinians who carried out the attack in which the Henkins were killed during the Succot holiday, informing them that their homes would be destroyed in 24 hours. The announcement gave the families the opportunity to appeal to the High Court against the demolition.
By Mor Shimoni
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