Israel's Supreme Court has frozen implementation of a law legalizing dozens of Jewish settlements built on private Palestinian land, which the U.N. labelled a "thick red line."

The decision was condemned by rightwing Israeli politicians who accused the judiciary of overruling the will of Israel's parliament.

The decision was in response to a petition brought by 17 Palestinian local councils on whose land the settlements are built. Israeli and Palestinian rights groups were also parties to the petition.