In its battles against the injustices of the occupation, HaMoked comes in daily contact with military and other state officials. In some cases, officials take a positive, professional approach. In others they are apathetic and unwilling to do their jobs properly, and in some cases, HaMoked comes across abusive, unseemly conduct from officials representing the State of Israel and its institutions.
On August 18, 2014, a lawyer from HaMoked attended an appeals committee hearing reviewing a decision to deny a permit to a Palestinian who wished to enter the “seam zone”, to work a plot of land he owns there.
The hearing was delayed due to the late arrival of the chair of the committee. When the hearing did begin, counsel from HaMoked asked for the full name and rank of the chair, Major Amos Zuarets, who was initially introduced by his first name only. Zuarets’ responded with an outburst, shouting: “I don’t have time for your nonsense. I’ll kick you and your client out of here”. Despite HaMoked counsel’s explicit request, the unusual, abusive response of the committee’s chair was left out of the hearing transcript.
On September 11, 2014,
HaMoked wrote to the head of the Civil Administration demanding that Major Zuarets receive clarification that his conduct was unacceptable. HaMoked also requested that the office of the West Bank Legal Advisor receive clarifications that transcripts taken during hearings held by an administrative authority must be accurate, particularly when one of the parties specifically requests that the record show a certain portion of the hearing.
On November 30, 2014, HaMoked received
the response of the Civil Administration, admitting that the committee chair had indeed made the statement HaMoked had attributed to him. The response also noted that the head of the Civil Administration had clarified to Zuarets that such comments were unacceptable. No comment was made with respect to HaMoked’s demands regarding the manner in which transcripts are taken.
