Al-Quds city, May 20 (SPA) - Israel has ordered a freeze onthe expansion of Israeli-run stone and gravel quarries in theoccupied West Bank and says it will examine the legality of theindustry, the Justice Ministry said on Wednesday. The government's decision was made in response to a petitionon behalf of West Bank Palestinians who say their land is beingillegally exploited, according to a report of Reuters. The Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, which filed theaction, said most of the stone yielded by West Bank quarries iseither brought to Israel or used for Israeli settlements in theWest Bank, which are illegal under international law. In a statement to Israel's High Court of Justice, theJustice Ministry said the government would freeze landallocation processes for quarrying that have already begun, anddeny approval for expansion of existing quarries. Contrary to the demand of the petition, quarrying already inoperation would not be halted, the statement said. The ministryasked the court to delay a hearing on this demand for six monthswhile it studies the legal position. Yesh Din, in a statement, said "the fact that a legalexamination has never been carried out on this issue isastounding". "This type of activity constitutes a violation of the lawsof occupation and hence of human rights and in some cases iseven defined as pillage," the Israeli rights group said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/666280