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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian land appropriated over thirty years ago to build an illegal settlement is set to be returned to its owners, an Israeli rights group said Sunday.

The Israeli state informed the High Court of Justice last week that the land near Jenin, formally the site of Homesh settlement, will be returned to its Palestinian owners after Yesh Din submitted a petition on behalf of villagers from Burqa.

"Thirty-five years have passed since the land was usurped from its lawful owners," Yesh Din lawyer Shlomi Zachary said.

"It is regrettable that it has taken so many years for the state to decide to observe the law and to return the usurped land to its owners. Our main concern now is to ensure that the landowners will actually be able to reach their land."

The land was seized in 1978 by Israel's military on the pretext of security needs, with the Homesh settlement subsequently built in the area.

Homesh was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, but the land remained a closed military zone and the original seizure orders were not nullified.

Settlers regularly return to the site and try to re-establish the settlement, locals say, with some attacking Palestinian vehicles and homes.