Court rejects motion against clemency for Gaza pullout opponents
High Court determines law that expunges criminal records of hundreds of people arrested during 2005 disengagement largely symbolic, promotes reconciliation
A nine-judge High Court of Justice panel rejected on Thursday a petition demanding the annulment of a controversial law that expunges the criminal records of hundreds of people detained during demonstrations against Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
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Outgoing Court President Beinish wrote in the majority opinion that while the legislation does infringe on the right to equality before the law, it is largely symbolic, as most of those convicted have already completed their sentences.
"The law is meant to promote reconciliation within Israeli society and allow the (pullout opponents) most of whom are normative, law-abiding citizens who became involved in criminal activities, to put (the episode) behind them," she wrote.
In the minority opinion, Justice Salim Joubran said the court should accept the motion, which was filed by left-wing activists some two years ago.
He asserted that even if the court assumes the number of people affected by the law is small, that still does not warrant the violation of the right to equality.
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