Jerusalem Evictions Put on Hold

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the government Tuesday to delay closing offices at the Palestinian headquarters in Jerusalem for at least a week, defusing the issue until after the country’s May 17 general election.

Palestinians who had gathered outside the headquarters in the century-old building known as Orient House greeted the news with cheers and fireworks. “I think the court decision lowers the specter of confrontation which had been imminent,” said Faisal Husseini, the Palestinians’ senior official in Jerusalem.

Judges gave the sides until May 18 to respond to a petition filed by the Israeli peace group Ir Shalem charging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closure order was motivated by electoral considerations and could ignite violence in the city.