Without mapping or answers on contamination scope: ILA submits update on private lands in Sde Dov

The Israel Land Authority (ILA) has submitted an update to the Herzliya Magistrate's Court regarding soil contamination tests in the Sde Dov quarter, following a court decision to postpone the land distribution lottery for rights holders in the "Big Block" (Gush HaGadol) to allow for the completion of necessary assessments.

The lottery, originally scheduled for late June, was pushed to August 11 at the request of land managers who argued that without clarity on the scope of contamination, remediation methods, and cost allocation, it is impossible to accurately assess land values and rights distribution for approximately 1,700 landowners.

Judge Yaakov Shaked accepted the request, noting that waiting for a clearer picture is a "negligible delay" compared to the potential risk of discovering significant contamination disparities between plots, which could drastically affect treatment costs and project timelines.

Progress reports without findings

The update submitted by the ILA failed to provide the comprehensive data expected by land managers. Rather than presenting a contamination map or a breakdown of specific plots, the Authority detailed the administrative progress of testing procedures and the approvals required for further investigation.

The ILA noted that, following a request from the Water Authority, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has updated guidelines for handling suspected contamination. Additionally, the Steering Committee for the Treatment of Contaminated Lands has approved an increased investigation budget to allow contractors to continue testing on the managers' plots.

However, the ILA stated that while testing plans have been submitted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, they have not yet been approved. According to the Authority, this approval process is expected to take approximately another month.

Implications for the lottery

Consequently, the land distribution lottery cannot proceed at this stage. Until testing plans are approved and the full scope of contamination is understood, the necessary data for distributing rights among the 1,700 stakeholders remains incomplete.

Rights in the "Big Block" are divided into three zones: the southern Eshkol complex, complex 2 (north of the quarter), and plan TA/3700 (the city's northwestern quarter). These zones represent thousands of equivalent housing units.

The process of dissolving the partnership between landowners began in 1975. A significant milestone was reached last September when the Herzliya Magistrate's Court approved the rights table. The final stage, which involves a lottery for landowners to realize their rights in preferred complexes, remains stalled pending the environmental findings.