Parents Sue Jerusalem Municipality Over Protest Camp Denial for Missing Girl

The parents of missing nine-year-old girl Haymanot Kassau, along with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, have filed a petition with the Jerusalem District Court after the Jerusalem Municipality denied their request to set up a protest tent camp. The family seeks to establish the camp at the intersection of Sussman and Kaplan streets, near the Prime Minister's office in the government quarter, from September 23 to October 22, 2026. Their aim is to pressure decision-makers to intensify efforts to find Haymanot, who disappeared from a reception center in Safed on February 25, 2024. Despite extensive searches and an investigation by Lahav 433, she remains missing.

The Kassau family has repeatedly sought permission from the Jerusalem Municipality to set up protest camps in various locations, including near the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's official residence. These requests were previously denied. On September 15, the Association for Civil Rights formally requested permission for a camp near the Prime Minister's office, but the municipality's legal advisor rejected it the following day.

The municipality cited concerns about sanitation, security, access obstruction, and the misuse of public space as reasons for the denial. However, the petitioners argue that the freedom to protest is a constitutional right, particularly significant near centers of government. They contend that the municipality's decision is based on general concerns rather than specific threats and that restrictions must be proportionate, considering freedom of speech and assembly.

Attorneys for the Association for Civil Rights stated that the municipality cannot restrict the protest based on general fears and overarching policy. They emphasized that limiting protest rights requires a high degree of certainty of serious harm, which is absent in this case. The attorneys asserted that the municipality is obligated to consider the request on its merits and allow the family to protest at their chosen location.

The Jerusalem Municipality reiterated that the request was evaluated based on the specific location, duration, and impact on public space, noting potential limitations on access and movement. They expressed empathy for the family's pain and hope for Haymanot's safe return, stating the decision does not diminish the importance of their struggle or their right to protest lawfully.