The battle over the sensitive plan in the Jerusalem area: an attempt to stop construction in E1

Petitioners against the E1 construction plan have filed an urgent request for an interim injunction with the Jerusalem District Court, demanding a freeze on the first tender for building 1,234 housing units and preventing the publication of additional tenders until a ruling on the petitions. The petitioners claim a substantial change in circumstances after the tender was published contrary to a commitment.

The petitioners in three consolidated petitions against the E1 construction plan filed an urgent request for an interim injunction today (Thursday) with the Jerusalem District Court. They demanded that the court order a freeze on the first tender under the plan, published this week for the construction of 1,234 housing units, and prevent the publication of additional tenders or any steps to advance the plan until a ruling on the petitions. Three petitions were filed against the plan and consolidated for joint hearing. One was filed by Ir Amim, Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, and Peace Now, together with Palestinian residents of the area. The request argues that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the court rejected previous requests for interim injunctions, because the tender has already been published and opened for bids – contrary to a commitment given to the petitioners to update them in advance. According to them, advancing the tender while the legal proceedings are still ongoing could create "irreversible facts on the ground" and thwart the possibility of granting effective relief. The E1 plan is considered one of the most politically sensitive construction plans, involving the construction of thousands of housing units in the area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim. Its advancement was delayed for years due to international opposition and concerns about harming Palestinian territorial continuity. On the other hand, the right wing views the plan as a strategic move to connect Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem.