Free Republic

The Supreme Court Thursday rejected the petition by scientists and academics against the COVID-19 lockdown. The judges ruled that “the petition’s underlying factual and legal infrastructure is no longer relevant," referring to the petition’s claims of inflated morbidity and mortality data, biases, and lack of transparency. The judges ruled the points were moot, as the government has already tightened measures and imposed full lockdown based on the same data. The Court said it cannot examine the substantive arguments presented by the petitioners, and therefore defers to the "competent bodies". Attorney Batya Sachs, who prepared the petition, responded to the ruling,...

A group of Arab residents of Samaria living under the administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has submitted a legal demand asking that Israeli employment laws be implemented in the area where they work - the industrial region of Nitzanei Shalom, just over the 1949 Armistice lines to the east of Netanya. The reason for the suit is a desire on the part of the Arab workers to receive various social rights enshrined in the Israeli laws, benefits they currently do not enjoy under the PA. However, a Tel Aviv - Yafo regional court ruled against the workers, deciding not...

Supreme Court President Asher Grunis issued a temporary order Wednesday forbidding the IDF from continuing the demolition of homes at the Jewish community of Maaleh Rechavam in the Etzion Bloc. The order forbidding eviction and demolition activities will stand "until another decision is given." Meanwhile, dozens of nationalist activists demonstrated at the entrance to the Knesset building, to protest demolitions carried out at the community Wednesday morning. A large police force arrived at the spot. Seven protesters were arrested. Special Yassam police and Border Police were among the forces that sealed off approaches to Maaleh Rechavam in the morning, to...

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Sunday to allow MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) to run for Knesset, overturning a decision from the Elections Committee barring Zoabi due to her support for terrorism. Zoabi's party, Balad, had threatened an Arab boycott of the elections if the decision were upheld. Her opponents cited several incidents in which she showed support for terrorism, including her participation in an attempt to forcibly break the naval blockade on Hamas that included an attack on IDF soldiers, and her meeting with senior Hamas terrorists. The Elections Committee banned Zoabi under a clause requiring candidates and parties not...

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly said Sunday that saving Beit El's threatened Ulpana neighborhood is a "challenge the public can tackle." Now, following the Supreme Court's rejection on Monday of his government's petition for a 90 day extension in which to determine a solution to the problem, the need for a solution is imminent. Arutz Sheva learned on Tuesday that Netanyahu is weighing his options for averting the destruction of the five homes slated for demolition against a ticking clock. Sources close to Netanyahu say the short time allotted – a mere two months – would make drafting legislation and...

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered two Arab squatters in Jerusalem’s Old City to vacate the homes they are occupying. Lawyer Mohammed Dahleh said the court had rejected his clients’ appeal on the basis that the properties had been legally acquired by Jewish prior to the establishment of Israel in 1948. “It went through the Magistrates Court, the District Court and now the Supreme Court,” Dahleh said. The Supreme Court also ordered the plaintiff's – Ghazi Zalum’s house and Ismail Wazwaz – to pay all the legal costs. Both properties – one a residence, the other a shop – are...

Ministers in the Netanyahu government on Monday said the Supreme Court's decision to reject the State's appeal for more time to find a way to normalize the status of Beit El's threatened Ulpana neighborhood would force them to pursue "a legislative solution." Minister of Education Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) said, "The High Court decision on the Ulpana neighborhood is simply unfair. We must consider the possibility of legislation to prevent the demolition of houses there." Minister of Culture and Sport Limor Livnat (Likud) said, "Given the Court's decision in this case, as well as in Migron, it seems inevitable legislation is...