Haimenot Kasao Family Sues Jerusalem Municipality Over Protest Tent Denial

The family of Haimenot Kasao, a girl who disappeared two and a half years ago, has filed a lawsuit with the Jerusalem District Court after repeated refusals by the Jerusalem Municipality to allow them to set up a protest tent. The family, represented by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, seeks to establish the tent near the Prime Minister's Office to protest the lack of progress in finding their daughter. The lawsuit follows a series of rejected requests, including attempts to set up the tent near the Supreme Court, the Knesset, and on Gaza Street at Balfour Street, a location historically used for protests opposite the Prime Minister's official residence.

The municipality, citing the legal advisor to the government, has argued that long-term tents can cause sanitation, safety, and accessibility issues, disrupting public space. The family's legal team contends that the municipality has failed to balance its responsibilities with the parents' right to protest and voice their concerns to decision-makers. They argue that the municipality's decision relies on general considerations rather than concrete dangers and that restricting protest rights requires certainty of serious harm to public order, which they claim is not the case here.

In a related development, President Isaac Herzog visited the Kasao family last month, revealing that the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) is assisting in the search efforts at the family's and police's request. The Shin Bet confirmed their involvement, stating they are supporting active investigation operations led by the police, without providing further details due to the ongoing nature of the case. The disappearance of nine-year-old Haimenot Kasao occurred on February 25, 2024, from a reception center in Safed. Despite extensive searches and the investigation being transferred to the Lahav 433 unit, she has not been found. Police had previously explored the possibility of collecting evidence in northern Ethiopia, following findings that linked the case to the African country.