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NEWSFLASH: Peace Now Stops E. Jerusalem "Dig"

Peace Now has scored another important legal victory to stop a dangerous settlement scheme in an area of East Jerusalem...
The construction was further inflaming tensions between Israelis and Palestinians

Peace Now has scored another important legal victory to stop a dangerous settlement scheme in an area of East Jerusalem that is a focal point for extremist settlers.

Through a legal petition submitted to Israel's High Court of Justice, Peace Now succeeded in freezing a massive construction project just 30 meters south of the Old City walls.

The court issued the injunction stopping construction after Peace Now presented evidence that the Israel Antiquities Authority and a settler organization used the pretext of archaeological digs to illegally begin construction of a 115,000 square meter structure meant to house an events hall, a commercial center, motels, and an underground parking lot.

The work at the site included laying 15-meter-deep iron foundations, a practice inconsistent with archaeological digs, which are "usually pursued with caution and fine equipment so as to eliminate the danger of damaging relics," noted the Peace Now petition. Further evidence of the careless nature of the project can be found in the cracked walls of neighboring Palestinian homes. "The damages give rise to concerns that the works are being performed without proper supervision from qualified engineers," the petition argued.

In an apparent effort to pre-empt Peace Now's legal advocacy, the Jerusalem Municipality ordered construction at the site halted one day before Peace Now filed the case, but that order failed to stop construction.

  • Click here to read background material about this case.

  • Click here to read a Haaretz article about the petition.