The Supreme Court annulled an amendment to the Prison Ordinance which allows for the establishment of a private prison that will be run by a private corporation.
In her ruling, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish said the transfer of control over Israel's prisons from the State to private hands would constitute a severe violation of prisoners' basic human rights.
The chief justice noted that while the amendment was aimed at improving detainment conditions in Israeli prisons, its main aim is an economic desire to save State funds.
Beinish added that while the High Court usually does not interfere in economic policies formulated by the government and Knesset, it takes a different approach in respect to legislation that undermines the most fundamental constitutional rights.
Meanwhile, Justice Edmund Levy, who remained in the minority opinion, wrote that he felt it was too early to determine that the proposed amendment is unconstitutional, as it has not been implemented yet.
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