The Peace Now movement claims that construction in Kochav Yaakov, a few miles north of Jerusalem, was unauthorized and done on private land of Arabs. The left-wing organization calls on the immediate cease of construction of 15 trailer homes, in which have been assembled in the last two months. Peace Now approached the civil administration head to stop the construction and remove the homes. Peace Now director-general Yariv Oppenheimer called upon Defense Minister Ehud Barak to stop the construction and has threatened to approach the High Court should his request not be carried out. The Defense Ministry has confirmed that the Migronim community of Kochav Yaakov is unauthorized.
However, Kochav Yaakov families represented by Aryeh King claimed that they purchased the land in 1972 and have allegedly produced documents proving their ownership.