High Court Orders JNF to Negotiate Jerusalem Greek Church Land Dispute
The High Court ordered the Jewish National Fund to negotiate with Gary Barnett's investor group to resolve the decades-long Greek Church land dispute in Jerusalem.
The High Court of Justice ordered the Jewish National Fund to enter into time-bound negotiations with an investor group led by Gary Barnett, seeking to resolve the decades-long dispute over Greek Orthodox Church lands in Jerusalem. The ruling, issued by Justices Dafna Barak-Erez, Ofer Grosskopf, and Yechiel Kasher, aims to secure the rights of hundreds of residents and address the future of public institutions built on the disputed 520-dunam area in neighborhoods such as Rehavia and Talbiyeh.
The court reprimanded the Israel Land Authority for failing to address the issue despite its statutory mandate to manage state and JNF lands. The petition, filed in July 2025 by some 200 sub-lessees holding apartments on plots leased by the JNF in the 1950s, highlights growing anxieties as the original 99-year lease agreements approach expiration in 2051 and 2052. Property values in the area have plummeted by roughly 30 percent in recent years amid fears of potential tenant evictions once the leases expire.
In 2023, the land was acquired by Gary Barnett's investor group for 750 million shekels, making Barnett the ultimate landowner while the JNF retains its leasehold status until mid-century. Petitioners urged the court to compel the JNF and the Israel Land Authority to exercise lease-extension options immediately to guarantee long-term housing security.
Responding to the court's decision, representatives for Gary Barnett's group welcomed the development, stating that the ruling paves the way for an expedited resolution. "The court adopted our position that there is no justification for continuing years of legal disputes when a swift settlement can be reached," the statement read.
