Hundreds of tenants, public institutions and hotels have filed a 700-page petition with Israel’s Supreme Court, demanding that the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and Israel Land Authority (ILA) secure their ongoing rights to prime Jerusalem land and block what they called a “forfeit deal” threatening their future and Jewish national assets. The petition follows years of delays and a sense of abandonment by authorities amid an ongoing crisis.
The battle centers on 571 dunams (141 acres) in Jerusalem’s central neighborhoods, encompassing 1,000 apartments and hotels. Leased by the KKL-JNF from the Greek Orthodox Church in the 1950s for 99 years, the land is set to revert to the church in 2051-2052.
The petitioners target the KKL-JNF, ILA, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Extell — controlled by U.S. tycoon Gary Barnett who bought the land in 2023 for 750 million shekels ($200 million) — Nayot Komemiyut (which sold it to Extell), and the Jerusalem municipality.
They claim the KKL-JNF holds an automatic, perpetual extension right to the land, allowing indefinite control at a nominal cost and urge the court to halt the transfer and compel a lease extension.
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The petition cites historical agreements and 1950s negotiations, arguing the KKL-JNF was granted effective ownership, with the church framing the deal as a lease to avoid internal criticism. It accuses the KKL-JNF and ILA of causing uncertainty, undermining property rights and devaluing assets by refusing to extend the lease.
An Israeli NGO known as the Committee to Save Israel’s Tenants said residents have faced empty promises from the KKL-JNF and ILA for over a decade while new owners pressure tenants to sign harsh agreements, hinting at potential eviction post-2051.
The committee noted that, 15 years ago, thousands learned their neighborhoods were sold to obscure foreign entities, with mounting financial and emotional tolls. They criticized the KKL-JNF for enabling a deal that delays resolution by 50 years, leaving tenants vulnerable to developers and forfeiting billions in Jewish assets, including public green spaces.
Attorneys representing the petitioners called the case a landmark, determining the fate of central Jerusalem land and hundreds of families, institutions and public spaces. They accused the KKL-JNF of allowing foreign companies to profiteer, harming tenants and the Jewish public.
KKL-JNF responded in a statement, saying it prioritizes tenants’ welfare and public interest, noting that some lawsuits hinder resolution. It has yet to receive the petition and will respond in court after review.