HAIFA, The Israeli police today dismantled all 10 checkpoints from the western part of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, following Adalah’s petition to the Israeli Supreme Court filed yesterday, according to an Adalah press release.

During the last month, since Member of Knesset (MK) Itamar Ben-Gvir from the far-right Religious Zionist Party established a makeshift office in Sheikh Jarrah, the police erected about 10 checkpoints in and around the neighborhood. The checkpoints prevented the entrance of Palestinians and other supporters of the struggle against forced evictions of Palestinian refugee families to Sheikh Jarrah, while Jewish Israeli settlers could continue to move freely.

“The sudden removal of the checkpoints indicates that the police are well aware that their actions are illegal and will not stand legally before the Court. Adalah submitted the petition after making its demands to remove the checkpoints known to the police some time ago. However, the police continue to exceed its authority time after time, and back down only when matters reach the courts. The police should uphold the law, and not systematically violate it as an integral part in the oppression of Palestinian residents’ rights in East Jerusalem,” said Adalah in its response to the police action.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency