High Court rejects petition against 'Citizenship Law'
Petition against law aimed at limiting reunification of Palestinian, Arab-Israeli families denied in 6:5 vote
Judges Eliezer Rivlin, Asher Grunis, Miriam Naor, Elyakim Rubinstein, Hanan Meltzer and Neal Handel ruled that the petition must be denied. In their ruling they wrote that they recognize the right for family reunification as derived from the right to dignity but ruled that it does not necessarily warrant implementation inside Israel.
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The justices of the dissenting opinion were Supreme Court Dorit Beinish, Edmond Levy, Edna Arbel, Salim Jubran and Esther Hayut.
In July 2003, the Knesset passed the "Citizenship Law" which aims to limit the reunification of families of Palestinians and Arab-Israelis.
The law states that the interior minister is entitled to grant citizenship only if the West Bank applicant has made s strong enough case that he identifies with the State of Israel and that he or his family members have cooperated with Israel or made a contribution to Israel's security.
Petitions filed against the law shortly thereafter were denied in 2005.
A year later, the High Court of Justice denied the petition again in a 6:5 vote. Several petitions on the matter were filed in May 2007 by the Civil Rights Association and Knesset Member Zahava Gal-On.
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