Court dismisses lawsuit against apartments near security fence

The Jerusalem District Court has dismissed a petition filed by the Regavim movement and the Gush Etzion Regional Council regarding two 12-story apartment buildings constructed near a security fence south of Jerusalem, adjacent to a PA village. The state argued that enforcement measures, including a stop-work order, had already been implemented, rendering further legal proceedings unnecessary, and the court agreed. Regavim described the project as a large-scale development, comparable to the Holyland complex, and criticized the state for only responding after the petition was submitted, relying solely on the stop-work order as proof of enforcement.

Regavim alleges that the Palestinian Authority is attempting to expand into Area C lands, establishing a permanent presence near Jerusalem and undermining Israeli sovereignty. They claim authorities ignored repeated warnings about the construction until legal action was initiated, and that stop-work orders are often issued without proper enforcement, allowing illegal structures to remain for extended periods.

Roi Drucker, Regavim’s director for Judea and Samaria, characterized the dismissal as a failure of enforcement and part of a larger PA effort to solidify its position in the area.

(Source：Israelnationalnews)