The Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court has overturned the criminal conviction of Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein in an environmental pollution case.
Instead of a criminal record, Judge Shmuel Herbst ruled that Rubinstein must complete 420 hours of community service and pay a fine of 36,000 shekels. The municipality itself was also ordered to pay a penalty of 200,000 shekels.
The charges stemmed from incidents beginning in 2011, when city sewage stations malfunctioned, causing raw sewage to spill into agricultural land and streams. Despite repeated warnings from the Environmental Protection Ministry, the pollution persisted for nearly four years.
In his ruling, Judge Herbst stated: “The defendant did not commit the offenses for his personal benefit but acted in a manner he believed was in line with his responsibility to the city’s residents.”
He noted that the issue was eventually resolved with the aid of 30 million shekels in government funding to upgrade the infrastructure.
The Environmental Protection Ministry opposed the cancellation of the conviction, arguing that serious environmental crimes must not be treated lightly and that a criminal conviction is vital for transparency with the public.
Meanwhile, the Haifa District Court sentenced a 27-year-old resident of Beit Jann to 28 months in prison for attacking Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors on Mount Meron in 2020.
The man admitted to throwing stones at inspectors who arrived to post demolition orders during enforcement against illegal construction. Protesters also set fire to the inspectors’ vehicle, forcing them to flee for safety.
Two inspectors injured in the attack were reassigned to office work due to trauma. One said the incident was more difficult for him than what he had experienced as a reserve soldier during the “Iron Swords” war.
The defendant expressed remorse, admitted his actions, and attempted to reach out to the inspectors to apologize. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay 100,000 shekels in compensation to the two victims.
Shai Peretz, chief prosecutor for the Nature and Parks Authority, welcomed the ruling, saying: “The verdict is a clear statement against any attempt to harm Nature and Parks Authority employees who are carrying out their mission in the field.”
