Israeli high court issues synagogue razing injunction for Gaza News
Israeli high court issues synagogue razing injunction for Gaza

[JURIST] Israel's High Court of Justice [official website] issued a temporary injunction Sunday prohibiting the destruction of 20 synagogues in the now-evacuated Gaza Strip [Jerusalem Post report] until further notice. The order was issued in response to requests made by a former rabbi in the Gaza strip [JURIST report]. State prosecutors Monday asked the High Court to rescind the order and reject a motion for an additional hearing on the matter. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon [Wikipedia profile] has ordered that anything in the synagogues which could be dismantled, be removed before destruction. However, ultra-Orthodox spiritual leader Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv [Wikipedia profile], filed a petition with the court calling for an international commitment to preserve the synagogues and leave them standing. Haaretz Daily has local coverage.