Jerusalem—Last month nine Israeli Supreme Court Justices ruled that the Third Amendment to the Law for the Prevention of Infiltration is unconstitutional and must be overturned.  Over 2,000 women, men and children are currently being held in harsh conditions without trial under the amendment, which was passed in January 2012.

The Supreme Court ruled that administrative detention of this sort violates the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom and that the state must examine each of the detainees’ cases individually within 90 days and release all those who are entitled to release under the Law of Entry to Israel.  Unlike the Anti-Infiltration Law, the Law of Entry to Israel does not allow extended detention of persons against whom deportation proceedings are not underway.