Israeli High Court Freezes Controversial Settlement Outpost Law

JNS.org

(JNS.org) The Israeli High Court has issued a temporary freeze on the controversial settlement law that allowed for certain Jewish outposts built on Palestinian-owned land to be retroactively legalized.

The Amona outpost before it was dismantled. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Known as the Regulation Law, the legislation allows for the Israeli government to expropriate private Palestinian-owned land where previously illegal settlement outposts have been built in good faith or with government support. The law was initiated in response to the controversy surrounding the dismantling of the Amona outpost earlier this year. The constitutionality of the law was quickly challenged by left-wing NGOs.

The High Court’s order freezes any attempts to retroactively legalize settlement outposts for a two-month period, during which time the government has a chance to challenge the decision.

Israeli lawmakers behind the Regulation Law called the High Court’s decision another example of the court overstepping its authority.

“Once again, we see how the High Court of Justice tramples on the separation of powers,” Member of Knesset Shuli Mualem-Refaeli (Jewish Home) said in a statement, adding, “The fight against Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, and against Israel’s existence, is being fought through terror and incitement, but through the abuse of Israel’s justice system as well.”