Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch on Tuesday gave the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) 90 days to change the way it handles Arab travel rights.
The internal security agency and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) battled in the High Court over the proper treatment of Palestinian Authority Arabs who are not allowed to leave the country for reasons of state security.
ACRI attorneys argued that any Arab added to the no-travel list should be informed of the decision immediately and should be allowed to fight the decision in court. The Shin Bet should be forced to explain to each petitioner why his name was added to the list, they said.
Shin Bet representatives objected to ACRI's demands and previously have expressed concern that the information they demand could reveal the identities of operatives and informants.
They added that current regulations, in place since the beginning of this year, allow PA Arabs who wish to travel abroad to contact IDF officials to confirm that they are allowed to do so. Those who discover that they are on the no-travel list can appeal to have their names removed, and the Shin Bet will consider their request and give an answer within six weeks, they said.
Less than one percent of PA Arabs are banned from international travel, while most face no problem traveling when they desire to do so, the Shin Bet pointed out. ACRI attorneys said the travel ban affects tens of thousands of people.
The case returns to the High Court in 90 days.