Today (4/2/25), the Israeli Supreme Court accepted Peace Now’s petition and ordered the police to open an investigation into investigation into crimes of organized illegal construction in the settlements. The ruling is on three different cases filed by Peace Now, demanding the investigation of the involvement of officials in the illegal construction in the outposts of Shvut Rachel, Haro’eh, and Alonei Shilo. The state, in response, repeatedly requested extensions on various pretexts and managed to drag the cases for years.
Nearly eight years ago, Peace Now published an extensive report, “Unraveling the Mechanism Behind Illegal Outposts“, exposing how settler-officials, mainly at the local authorities of the settlements, established illegal outposts and settlements without authorization, exploiting public resources and funds to create political and security facts on the ground. Following the report, Peace Now submitted evidence to the police and the State Prosecutor’s Office, urging them to launch an investigation into those behind this fraudulent mechanism. However, the enforcement authorities refrained from acting, effectively granting settler leaders impunity.
Over the years, Peace Now has continued to file complaints demanding investigations into additional cases of illegal construction facilitated by settler regional councils. In every instance, the police and the State Prosecutor’s Office refused to investigate, and Peace Now subsequently petitioned the Supreme Court multiple times, as the state sought to evade accountability.
A few months ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of another Peace Now petition, requiring the police to investigate illegal construction in the HaYovel outpost. Today’s ruling follows that precedent, compelling law enforcement authorities to investigate unauthorized settlement construction in Shvut Rachel, Haro’eh, and Alonei Shilo.
Another Peace Now petition demanding an investigation into the involvement of the Gush Etzion Regional Council in funding and constructing the illegal outpost of Sde Boaz is still pending before the court (Supreme Court case 3210/22).
Additionally, tomorrow (February 5, 2025), the Supreme Court will hold a hearing on a separate Peace Now petition demanding an investigation into the Musari-B’Tzalmo organization, which has raised millions of shekels for illegal outposts in the Occupied Territories (Supreme Court case 3773/22).
Peace Now: “For too long, settler leaders have acted with impunity, exploiting public funds to entrench facts on the ground that impose political and security costs on all of Israeli society. Opening an investigation is a critical first step in tackling this phenomenon. It is time for settler leaders to reconsider before breaking the law and using public resources to further entrench the occupation, deepening the conflict, and moving Israel further away from peace.”