The state asked the High Court of Justice for a six-month grace period before submitting plans to raze the illegal West Bank Bedouin herding village of Khan al-Ahmar.
In an unusual step, the state’s response was first announced by the Foreign Ministry, which is not typically the address for issues involving Israeli demolitions of illegal Bedouin and Palestinian construction in Area C.
Regavim had petitioned the court, asking it force the state to implement an earlier ruling that the encampment could be removed.
The court had asked the state to defend its failure to remove the encampment perched near Route 1, close to the Kfar Adumim demanding it do so by September 5.
On Sunday the Justice Ministry told the court there was “significant advancement” toward what could be an agreed-upon evacuation of the site and asked to submit a plan only on March 6.
Due to the sensitivity of a pending evaluation, the state also said it wanted to provide the court with a confidential document. It noted that already last year the court had held a closed-door hearing on the matter.
Israel is under pressure from the US not to pursue its policy of demolishing illegal Palestinian structures.
Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared poised in 2018 to demolish the village, which is home to 180 Jahalin Bedouin. He backed away from the demolition after former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Benosuda warned that such activity could constitute a war crime. The ICC is examining the possibility of allowing war crimes suits to be filed against Israelis.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his Yamina Party have in the past supported the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has spoken against the demolition warning that it would have negative diplomatic consequences for Israel.
Regavim Director-General Meir Deutsch said in response that “From the first day of the current government’s term, we have stressed that deeds, not words, are what count.
“Today it has become clear that contrary to its oft-repeated declarations, this government is continuing along the dangerous trajectory set by its predecessor, conducting its law enforcement system according to the whims of foreign governments.”
The international community and the Palestinian Authority have argued that Khan al-Ahmar residents have a right to remain at the site, where they first settled in the 1970s. They noted that Israel issues few permits for Palestinian construction in Area C, and thus it was not possible to have regulated the community's presence.
The Right in turn argued that the PA has deliberately supported the expansion of Khan al-Ahmar because it sits at a strategic site, where future settlement expansion is planned.