Israel’s top court issues a temporary injunction barring the Health Ministry from handing local authorities information on those who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The High Court of Justice also instructs state bodies and health providers to explain why legislation allowing the ministry to do so has not been scrapped. They were given until Sunday afternoon to submit a response.
The controversial law, which was approved last month by the Knesset, authorizes the Health Ministry to transfer data to municipalities and the Education Ministry for a three-month period. The legislation is aimed at encouraging the unvaccinated to be immunized and prohibits the use of the information for other purposes.
In their decision, the judges cite the laws “harming of the constitutional right to privacy” guaranteed in Israel’s quasi-constitutional Basic Laws.
The next hearing is set for March 16, with an expanded bench of seven judges.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2021
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