Sde Dov Gadol Block: Soil Tests Nearing Completion Ahead of 1,700-Plot Lottery

The Israel Land Authority (ILA) has updated the Herzliya Magistrate's Court on the progress of soil contamination investigations in the Sde Dov district's "Gadol Block" (Tel Aviv plan TA/4444). Following approval of all drilling programs by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, drilling has been completed across all private plots in the block, with the sole exception of Plot 2101, which requires preliminary surface clearance.

The completion of these tests paves the way for a long-delayed lottery of plots among approximately 1,700 property rights holders. The lottery was initially postponed due to serious concerns over potential soil contamination.

Lab Bottlenecks and Upcoming Deadlines

The ILA is currently awaiting final soil test results. According to the court filing, the testing laboratory is facing a backlog, and results are expected to be delivered within the coming days to approximately 30 days.

In response to the update, the court ordered the ILA to submit a status report upon completion of the analysis, no later than November 5, 2026.

Background on the Sde Dov Land Dispute

The controversy centers on the allocation of land in the lucrative Sde Dov district. Around 1,700 rights holders are slated to receive their designated plots through a lottery system that was originally scheduled for late June.

"The lottery cannot proceed while the scope of contamination, remediation methods, and the responsible party for the costs remain undetermined," land managers argued in prior petitions.

The court previously accepted arguments from land managers to halt the lottery until comprehensive soil surveys were concluded. With drilling now finalized, stakeholders await laboratory data to determine the full extent of contamination and the next steps for property distribution.