Sheikh Sa’ed is a neighborhood of the larger village of Sawahra. However, Sheikh Sa’ed is in West Bank, while the western part of Sawahra was annexed to East Jerusalem in 196. Israel planned to build the Separation Barrier between Sheikh Sa’ed and the rest of the village, which would cut off the neighborhood’s only access road to the outside world.

The Tel-Aviv Magistrate’s Court voided this portion of the Separation Barrier, ruling that it would cause disproportionate harm to the daily lives of the neighborhood’s residents. The court rejected the state’s argument that the residents constituted a security threat, and recommended that the barrier be built east of the neighborhood, in a way that enables the residents to gain access to East Jerusalem.

The action was filed by the Sheikh Sa’ed Neighborhood Committee and five residents of the village, who were represented by attorney Ghaith Nasser.

Related Links

Facing the Abyss: The Isolation of Sheikh Sa’ad Village – Before and After the Separation Barrier (RTF) B’Tselem (February 2004)

Barrier Route was Planned to Enable Settlement Expansion, B’Tselem/Bimkom (15 September 2005)

Construction moves forward on Barrier around Ma’aleh Adumim, B’Tselem (26 August 2005)

Israel orders Palestinian land seized, Khalid Amayreh (24 August 2005)

UN Experts mark anniversary of ICJ “Wall Opinion”, UNCHR (4 August 2005)

One year after ICJ ruling, Israel OKs Wall in Jerusalem, Arjan El Fassed (10 July 2005)

Text of the Israeli cabinet communique approving the completion of the Wall in Jerusalem (10 July 2005)