The government is mulling whether the new law enabling the expropriation of privately owned Palestinian land applies to agricultural land illegally worked by settlers and not just to areas on which settlers have built homes, Israeli Prosecutor’s Office told the High Court of Justice last week.

It was responding to a High Court petition filed by Palestinians who claim ownership of agricultural land located near the West Bank settlement of Shiloh, Haaretz newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Palestinians say the settlers forced them off the land several years ago and have been working it illegally ever since.

In 2009, Israel’s Civil Administration in the West Bank issued orders barring the settlers from cultivating the land. However, those orders were never enforced, partly because the settlers appealed them. 

The Palestinians therefore asked the court to order that the land be restored to them

Source: MENA