Challenging the failure to disclose criteria for approving construction projects in Gaza

June 7, 2012

On April 2, 2012, Gisha challenged the October 26, 2011 decision of the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) not to disclose the criteria for allowing construction materials into the Gaza Strip for “security considerations”, especially in light of the fact that the requested information had already been provided to international organizationsIn its challenge to the decision, Gisha argued that it was not sound to provide the information to international organizations but withhold it from Israeli organizations. Gisha also challenged the use of the phrase “security considerations” as the grounds for withholding the information, since it is not listed in the Freedom of Information Act as one of the permissible grounds for refusing to provide information.

COGAT responded on June 7, 2012. According to the response sent to Gisha, in considering an application to bring construction materials into the Gaza Strip, the relevant officials take the following factors into account: the location of the project, who funds it and the nature of the raw materials required for it. The response also noted that every application to bring construction materials into Gaza is reviewed individually.

Relevant documents
COGAT response, June 7, 2012 (Hebrew).