Supreme Court Denies Standing to Bereaved Father in UNRWA Case
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
A father whose son was murdered by a UNRWA employee is challenging a Supreme Court decision that denied him standing to petition for the enforcement of a law against the organization. The court ruled that only the Jerusalem Municipality had direct standing, despite the father's personal loss and advocacy. The petitioners argue this sets a dangerous precedent, potentially allowing laws to go unenforced if local authorities do not act. They are seeking an expanded hearing to establish clear, consistent rules for public standing in Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A father denied standing by the Supreme Court in a case against UNRWA is seeking an expanded hearing.
- His son was murdered and kidnapped by a UNRWA employee on October 7.
- The court ruled only the Jerusalem Municipality had direct standing to petition.
- Petitioners argue the decision creates a dangerous precedent for law enforcement.
- MK Yulia Malinowski and the 'Bezalmo' organization also joined the petition.
A new public controversy is brewing over the implementation of the law to halt UNRWA's activities in Israel, following a Supreme Court decision to reject a petition demanding enforcement in East Jerusalem. The petitioners, including a father whose son was murdered and kidnapped by a UNRWA employee on October 7, are seeking an expanded High Court hearing, arguing the court's ruling sets a dangerous precedent by denying public standing.
The case began in January 2026 when the Jerusalem Municipality requested the IDF and police seize a UNRWA compound in Kfar Aqab, East Jerusalem, under the new law. State authorities delayed action for nearly eight months, prompting a petition to the Supreme Court demanding the government, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir enforce the law. Security forces eventually entered and secured the compound in late August 2026, rendering the practical relief sought by the petition moot.
However, instead of dismissing the case, the Supreme Court justices rejected the petition outright, citing lack of standing. They ruled that since the Jerusalem Municipality had direct interest and could have petitioned itself but chose not to, public petitioners should not be allowed to intervene. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from the petitioners' legal team, who argue it ignores the personal impact on individuals like Yaakov Samarno.
Samarno, whose son Yonatan was killed and abducted by a UNRWA worker on October 7, has been a vocal international critic of the organization and participated in legislative efforts. He found himself barred from seeking judicial remedy due to a lack of direct standing. Also joining the petition are Member of Knesset Yulia Malinowski, the law's initiator, and the "Bezalmo" organization, representing bereaved families.
The petitioners contend the ruling creates a practical immunity for the executive branch from enforcing Knesset laws, as local authorities are often dependent on the central government and may not pursue legal action against it. They argue that if a local authority's inaction blocks citizens and victims from petitioning independently, entire laws could become dead letters without judicial oversight. They cite numerous past cases where the court allowed public petitions or heard cases on their merits even when direct parties did not petition, including for Palestinian civilians and security prisoners, contrasting this with the denial of standing to Israeli citizens seeking to protect their own.
The petitioners are not seeking operational relief regarding the compound, which has already been vacated. Their goal is to establish a precedent for consistent and objective public standing rules in Israel, preventing the application of different standards for different petitioners. The Supreme Court justices will now decide whether to grant the exceptional request for an expanded hearing to address the boundaries of judicial review.