Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the government can dismantle a Palestinian tent city set up in the controversial E-1 area.
The court on Wednesday lifted a temporary injunction on dismantling the Palestinian outpost, called Baab al Shams, or “sunny gateway” in Arabic.
In lifting the injunction, the court accepted the government's argument that the outpost could lead to a security crisis. The judges also accepted the Palestinians' claim that the tents were located on a section of E-1 that is believed to be private Palestinian land.
Some 100 Palestinian activists and international activists were removed from the site on Jan. 13, more than a day after the tent city was erected in the area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim on land the Palestinians say is necessary to form a state.
Israeli security forces removed the people but not some 25 tents, saying that met the court's requirements. Israeli soldiers since then have turned back Palestinians attempting to return to the outpost several times.
The Israeli government in November announced plans to approve construction of thousands of apartments for Jews in the area in response to the Palestinians' decision to appeal to the United Nations General Assembly for enhanced statehood status.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.