The group argues that the demolition would, as collective punishment, be illegal under international humanitarian law.

Hussam Dwayat went on the rampage at the wheel of a front-loader
vehicle, or bulldozer, killing three people and wounding dozens before
security personnel shot him dead.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel should
destroy the homes of “every terrorist from Jerusalem”.

Mr Mazuz said in his legal opinion: “In light of repeated rulings over
the years by the Supreme Court, it cannot be said that there is a legal
objection… to the demolition of houses in Jerusalem, but the move would
create considerable legal difficulties.”

Mr Mazuz warned that apart from legal challenges in
Israeli courts, a resumption of the practice of house demolitions could
draw international condemnation.

He called for a detailed consideration of the
circumstances surrounding each case by the internal security service,
Shin Bet, the army and the justice ministry.

In February 2005, Israel abandoned the demolitions of
homes of Palestinians involved in attacks against its citizens after
human rights groups challenged the practice in Israel’s Supreme Court.

Reports say about 20 people live in the home of the attacker Hussam
Dwayat in the Sur Bahir area of East Jerusalem. They all insist that
they had no prior knowledge of his intentions.

The Israeli authorities have said that Dwayat acted alone and was not connected to any Palestinian militant group.

In a statement about the anticipated demolition, rights group B’tselm
said: “The declared objective of this policy is to harm innocent
persons – relatives of suspected perpetrators, who are not accused of
any criminal wrongdoing themselves.

“The demolition of houses is a clear case of collective
punishment, which violates the principle that a person is not to be
punished for the acts of another. Collective punishment is therefore
illegal regardless of its effectiveness.”

The group pointed to the findings of a committee
appointed by a former chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon, as finding house
demolitions did more harm than good to Israel’s security.