Arab Rights Groups Petition Israeli Supreme Court to Cancel Government Transfer of Funds to Shin Bet
Several human rights organizations and the National Committee of Arab Local Authorities in Israel filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the Israeli government, police, and Shin Bet. They demand the cancellation of the government’s decision to cut 500 million shekels from the five-year plan budget aimed at reducing gaps in Arab society (known as 550 Takadum) and redirect those funds to the police and Shin Bet. The petition also requests the court to rule that Shin Bet is not authorized to handle civilian crime and to issue an interim injunction preventing the budget cuts and Shin Bet’s involvement until the case is resolved. Justice Dafna Barak-Erez ordered the government to respond to the injunction request by August 13.
The petitioners include the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Itach Maaki, Women Lawyers for Social Justice, and the Mossawa Center for Arab Citizens’ Rights, represented by attorneys Hagar Shachter and Nitzan Ilani. They argue that contrary to the government’s misleading claim that the funds were underutilized, multiple professional bodies, including legal advisors from various ministries, warned that the cuts would severely harm programs aimed at developing Arab society and reducing discrimination. The cuts would disrupt ongoing projects, harm thousands involved, and waste already invested funds, thus violating human rights, especially equality.
The petition further claims the funds are vaguely allocated under the guise of combating crime in Arab society but are mostly funneled to Shin Bet for civilian crime enforcement without legal authority. This grants a secret security agency broad powers to monitor the entire Arab public, including law-abiding citizens. The petitioners warn this creates a separate, draconian enforcement system for Arabs, treating them as a fifth column, while Jewish citizens remain under police jurisdiction.
They also criticize the rushed and improper decision-making process, which ignored professional objections from acting Prime Minister’s Office director, government legal advisors, and other ministries, including the Ministry for Social Equality. Mazen Gnaim, chairman of the National Committee of Arab Local Authorities, condemned the decision as weakening Arab society by cutting resources from employment, education, and development, and warned against involving Shin Bet in civilian crime. He emphasized that Arab citizens deserve a fair, equal law enforcement system protecting their rights, privacy, and due process, just like Jewish citizens.
