Israel Railways is currently constructing an expansion to the Jerusalem –Tel Aviv Rail line though the West Bank. According to international law Israel is forbidden from constructing permanent infrastructure in the occupied territories for the benefit of the state of Israel.
In December 2008 a plan was published where a roads for the use of the rail line were to be constructed on the lands of the Palestinian village Bet Ichsa

Peace Now subsequently submitted an objection to the plan for two main reasons:
1) The plan is illegal as it uses occupied land for train lines for Israeli use
2) The plan is illegal because it blatantly uses private Palestinian land without any process of purchasing the land rights, or declaring the land state land, or annexing the land – no process has taken place at all.

Today, Monday May 11, 2009 a hearing over Peace Now's objections will be heard in the Civil Administration council.

For the article in Haaretz - click here