Jerusalem: The Israeli Central Court in occupied Jerusalem has dismissed a petition that sought to freeze a tender for the construction of 1,234 settlement units in the E1 settlement project. The request aimed to halt the procedures related to the plan's implementation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the court noted that the actual commencement of construction is still distant. It emphasized that the petitions filed against the project would likely be resolved before the project reaches the stage of implementation. Potential bidders have been informed about the ongoing legal proceedings, with any rights arising from the tender being contingent on the court's decision.
The request, submitted last August, was part of three consolidated petitions against the E1 plans. These petitions were filed by the Ir Amim and Bimkom - Planners for Planning Rights organizations, the Peace Now movement, and Palestinian residents. The petitioners argued that the tender should be suspended, claiming that issuing it without prior notice breached a previous commitment to notify them before its publication.
The petitioners expressed concern that continuing the tender procedures before the petitions are adjudicated could establish new facts on the ground. They warned that this could limit the court's ability to provide an effective remedy if the challenges are upheld.
The tender involves the construction of 1,234 settlement units out of the approximately 3,400 planned for the area between occupied Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim.