High Court urges talks to resolve dispute over property formerly owned by Greek Orthodox church

The High Court of Justice urged parties in a decades-old dispute over Jerusalem properties formerly owned by the Greek Orthodox Church to negotiate a settlement. The court criticized KKL-JNF for delaying but did not order lease renewals. Extell, which bought the land in 2023, has reached private agreements with about 200 homeowners.

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday urged parties in a long-running dispute over Jerusalem properties previously owned by the Greek Orthodox Church to make serious efforts to reach a settlement without further delay. The court will likely set a deadline for concrete progress in negotiations in the coming days. The dispute stems from a complex arrangement where homeowners own their apartments but not the land beneath them. KKL-JNF, which holds the lease for hundreds of dunams where about 1,000 families live, was criticized by the court for dragging its feet. The court did not order KKL-JNF to renew lease agreements. Justice Daphne Barak-Erez said the situation has created uncertainty and declining property values. Extell, which purchased the leased land in 2023, has been pushing for a negotiated settlement to begin development projects. The court rejected an argument by some owners that the dispute should be decided legally, saying that could take years. Extell has reached private agreements with about 200 homeowners. The next round of talks is expected to include greater transparency.