TPS: Northern District Court Triples Fine for Illegal Construction
A Northern District Court tripled Mohammed Rahal's fine to NIS 150,000 for illegal construction in Zarzir, rejecting his appeal and shortening demolition time.
Jerusalem, 18 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A Northern District Court has tripled the fine imposed on Mohammed Rahal, convicted of illegally constructing a 1,050-square-meter commercial building in Zarzir, an Arab local council located west of the city of Nazareth, raising it to NIS 150,000 (roughly $50,000).
Judge Moran Margalit rejected an appeal seeking a lighter sentence, and ruled that the building’s unfinished state did not justify leniency because construction continued despite an administrative stop-work order.
The order was issued in January 2018, when construction had only begun, but Rahal continued building.
Judge Margalit said the construction involved substantial work carried out in violation of the order and represented significant harm to the rule of law. He also shortened the period for Rahal to demolish the structure from six months to two.