High Court Orders Police to Justify Concrete Roadblocks in Arab Towns

The High Court issued a conditional order requiring Israel Police to explain why it should not place rigid, unmanned concrete roadblocks without explicit legislative authority. The order arose from HCJ 4388-02-26, filed by four Lod residents represented by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel after barriers in two neighborhoods were later moved. Police must submit a sworn response at the beginning of October. The petitioners say similar barriers remain in I'billin and Jisr az-Zarqa, while police have cited general Police Ordinance powers and crime-prevention needs.