Parents of Missing Girl Sue Jerusalem Municipality Over Protest Camp Denial

The parents of 9-year-old Haymanot Kasaw, who disappeared in February 2024, have filed an urgent lawsuit with the Jerusalem District Court. They are challenging the Jerusalem Municipality's decision to deny them permission to set up a month-long protest camp near the Prime Minister's Office. The family hopes the protest will pressure the government to have the Shin Bet fully investigate their daughter's disappearance.

Haymanot Kasaw vanished from a rehabilitation center in Safed where her family resided. She was last seen distributing flyers for local elections. Despite extensive searches involving police, volunteers, and dogs, no trace of the child has been found. Over 2.5 years later, the police investigation remains open, with limited Shin Bet involvement.

The municipality rejected the permit request, citing general concerns about sanitation, safety, and public space accessibility. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel is representing the family, arguing that the municipality failed to conduct an individual assessment of the specific site and instead applied a blanket refusal.

The petition states the family has repeatedly attempted to obtain permits for tents near the Supreme Court, the Knesset, and the Prime Minister's residence without success. Previously, the city council had sought a court order to close the case, claiming the family's plan to erect a temporary Sukkot tent in Agranat Square constituted vigilantism. The family's representatives countered that the holiday tent would be temporary and dismantled after the festival, while the protest itself aims for dialogue with national leaders.