JERUSALEM, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli right-wing leaders hailed on Wednesday a "precedent-setting" court ruling that would legalize an unpermitted West Bank settlement outpost built on private Palestinian land.
The Jerusalem District Court ruled late Tuesday that the isolated outpost of Mitzpe Kramim can be legalized even though Palestinians have claimed ownership on the land on which it was built.
According to the court, the settlers have acted in "good faith" and did not know the land was privately owned.
Speaker of the Knesset (parliament) Yuli Edelstein of the Likud ruling party celebrated the court's decision as a "just and proper ruling," vowing the Likud will "continue to strengthen the settlements."
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said the ruling proved evictions of such outposts are unnecessary and "hopefully they won't be repeated."
Israeli human rights groups are likely to appeal to Israel's Supreme Court, which has previously ruled that such outposts should be forcibly evicted.
Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. The settlements are illegal under international law and most of the international community considers them as an obstacle for peace.
