Court Allows Tender for 1,234 Homes in E1 Settlement to Proceed

The Jerusalem District Court has rejected a request to halt a tender for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 area, located between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. Judge Nimrod Flexer ruled that significant time will likely pass before the tender is realized, and the petitions against it are expected to be decided before any physical changes occur on the ground.

The court's decision allows the tender process to continue for now. The petitioners, including the organizations Peace Now, Ir Amim, and Bimkom, had sought an interim order to freeze the tender and its advancement until their petitions are resolved. They argued that proceeding with the tender while the legal challenges are ongoing could create a situation that limits the court's ability to provide effective relief if their petitions are granted.

Judge Flexer cited the long road from tender to actual construction as a key factor in his decision. The state also provided an undertaking not to claim a "fait accompli" due to the tender's progress. Furthermore, tender documents informed bidders that the plans are under legal review and their rights would be subject to the outcome.

The petitions were filed by Ir Amim, Bimkom, and a joint petition by Peace Now and Palestinian residents. They claim the tender was published without prior notice and in violation of commitments allegedly made by the State Attorney's Office. The construction plans in E1 received approval from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about a month ago, drawing criticism from 21 countries, including Britain and France, who described the move as a "death blow" to the Palestinian state.