Supreme Court obliges the occupation to hold a hearing before extending the closure of Al-Bustan Association

The Supreme Court in occupied Jerusalem, on Monday, considered the legal petition submitted by Al-Bustan Community Association against the unjust decisions of the occupation against it. The petition targets the decision of the Minister of Internal Security issued in mid-February of this year, which ordered the freezing of all sports, educational, and social activities of the institution, with work limited only to its kindergarten.

During the judicial deliberations, the defense team, consisting of lawyers Muhannad Jabara, Midhat Deebah, and Hamza Qattainah, refuted all the pretexts put forward by the occupation's security apparatuses regarding the association's funding sources. The lawyers affirmed before the court that the allegations linking the association to the Palestinian Authority are not based on any material or legal evidence, considering that the closure represents a political targeting of a long-standing institution that has served Jerusalemites for decades.

After the court reviewed secret files submitted by the security agencies, the judicial body recommended dismissing the current petition due to the imminent expiration of the administrative decision within less than two weeks. However, the decision included a binding text for the authorities to hold an official hearing with representatives of the association and its legal team before taking any step to extend the closure, which gives the institution an opportunity to defend its right to remain.

For its part, the administration of Al-Bustan Association considered that this legal position represents a partial victory and an important step in confronting the policies of restriction targeting the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem. The association clarified that depriving hundreds of children and youth of their developmental and sports programs over the past five months caused significant damage, affirming its determination to exhaust all legal avenues to ensure the full restoration of its activities.

Jerusalemite institutions emphasize that the targeting of Al-Bustan comes in a broader context aimed at weakening the community structure in the Old City and its surroundings. The association pledged to continue its mission of strengthening the steadfastness of the city's residents and providing safe spaces for education and sports, considering that the right of Jerusalem's children to these services is an inherent right that cannot be waived under the weight of arbitrary decisions.

The closure decision lacks any legal basis and constitutes an arbitrary measure that infringes upon the rights of a Jerusalemite institution that has served the community for decades.