On February 6, 2014, HaMoked
petitioned the High Court of Justice (HCJ) to instruct the military to remove the
DCO Checkpoint. The checkpoint allows Israelis and about 1,000 Palestinians with VIP passes to travel on Road 466 connecting al-Birah and Ramallah with the towns and villages lying to the east. In the petition, HaMoked described the long detour residents of villages east of Ramallah and al-Birah must take in order to reach these cities and back, and also the severe economic toll and needless waste of time it causes. HaMoked stressed that the DCO Checkpoint gravely impedes the Palestinian residents' freedom of movement and freedom of occupation as well as their rights to property, education and dignity.
On June 11, 2014,
in its response to the petition, the state informed that the military was not opposed to opening the road to Palestinian travel, provided that Junction 90, connecting Road 466 and Route 60, be adjusted to serve heavy traffic volumes. The military estimated that it would take about six months to complete the plans for the juncture's alteration, and that construction work would be completed by the end of 2015; it would then be decided whether alterations are also needed in Road 466. In view of this position, the state requested the court to dismiss the petition.
On June 12, 2014, the court decided to hold a hearing on the petition in six months' time.
