High Court strikes down suspension of welfare for parents of young security prisoners

The High Court of Justice strikes down legislation allowing the state to suspend certain welfare benefits for the parents of minors imprisoned for security offenses.

The justices rule that the 2015 law “unconstitutionally harms the right of equality.”

The court gives the Knesset a year to amend the law, noting it has only been applied in 10 cases and is rarely used due to what is says are difficulties in coordinating with the National Insurance Institute about the welfare payments.

In various dissents, Justice Neal Hendel notes criminal and security offenses are treated differently, asserting therefore the law did not harm the right to equality. Justice Isaac Amit argues that as the parents don’t have to pay the same level of expenses for the child while he is imprisoned, any damage caused by suspending the benefits is “negligible and does not justify invalidating the law.”