An Israeli court on Tuesday rejected a bid from rights groups to halt the development of a settlement in the occupied West Bank, a project that critics argue would severely undermine the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
The Jerusalem District Court dismissed a motion aimed at stalling the publication of tenders for the settlement, known as the E1 plan, located east of Jerusalem.
Israel's construction and housing ministry had opened a tender for more than 1,200 housing units in July, prompting non-governmental organizations to file legal challenges. The E1 plan, which was approved by Israel last year after being frozen for over two decades due to pressure from successive US administrations, is intended to further isolate Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.
The court ruled that a considerable amount of time would pass before any physical changes occurred on the ground, and that the three consolidated petitions challenging the E1 plan would likely be resolved before then. The court also noted the state's commitment not to argue that progress in the tender process constitutes a fait accompli, and that potential bidders were informed that any rights acquired would be subject to the court's ruling.
