Israeli Groups Urge Supreme Court to Halt Illegal Construction Near Jerusalem's Security Fence
The Regavim Movement and the Gush Etzion Regional Council filed an urgent petition to Israel's Supreme Court on Tuesday against Defense Minister Israel Katz, Deputy Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Central Command chief, and enforcement authorities in the West Bank. They demand immediate action to stop illegal construction of two massive buildings in Area C near the village of al-Walaja, located about 300 meters from the security barrier surrounding Jerusalem. One building is unusually tall for the area, reaching approximately 11 stories, while the second is already five stories high.
Regavim emphasizes that the construction directly overlooks the security route, traffic, southern Jerusalem neighborhoods, and Gush Etzion communities. They accuse the builders of blatant disregard for the law and criticize the lack of enforcement, which they say encourages further illegal activity. Earlier this year, the Civil Administration's enforcement unit pledged in a Knesset Interior Committee hearing to intensify efforts and halt unauthorized construction by the end of 2023.
The petition sharply condemns the failure of the Civil Administration and security apparatus to respond to repeated complaints over more than six months. It alleges the construction is part of a strategic plan to create a contiguous Palestinian built-up area that would sever Gush Etzion from Jerusalem. Regavim requests the court to order immediate demolition, issue an interim injunction preventing occupancy or connection to infrastructure, and instruct the Israeli police to open a criminal investigation against those responsible.
Gush Etzion Regional Council head Yaron Rosenthal stressed Israel's obligation to demolish the illegal structures threatening Har Gilo and the connection between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem. Regavim's Judea and Samaria director, Roy Drucker, called the situation a "mega-planning and security failure" and demanded an end to the authorities' apparent disregard for unauthorized concrete "monsters" so close to the security fence. The petition follows recent judicial criticism of enforcement agencies for providing vague responses instead of taking concrete action on the ground.
