Supreme Court rules against Hebron municipality

The Palestinian Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a decision by local ministers in Hebron, which would have seen the village of al-Dir added to the municipal boundaries of Surif. The decision cancels a local council resolution, which was supported by the minister of local government, to add al-Dir to Surif, but people involved in public projects in al-Dir rejected the decision. The case dates back to November 2010, when attorney Muhammad Rabee petitioned the Supreme Court against the Palestinian Authority's Hebron council of ministers and minister of local government. The head of the al-Dir local council, Muhammad Baradiyeh, said the people of his village did not want to be lumped in with another town. The decision might have affected control over public projects. The high court agreed and on Thursday ruled against the Palestinian Authority. A day earlier, the minister of local government, Khalid Qawasmi, told Ma'an that the PA's intention in linking the municipalities was to 'improve people's lives through different projects sponsored by the government and others." he tex