Interim Order preventing the deportation of a young stateless Palestinian: the HCJ ordered the State not to deport the young man until the hearing on HaMoked's petition, which demands that he be granted status in Israel. The petitioner has lived in Jerusalem his entire life, but the Interior Ministry's systematic foot dragging in handling his case has turned him into a person without basic rights or liberties

HaMoked petitioned the Court for Administrative Affairs in order to have a stateless young man be granted status in Israel. His status was not established following his birth, due to his mother's personal problems and the Interior Ministry's obtuseness. Despite the fact that all his ties are to Israel, and that appeals in his case were addressed to the Interior Ministry shortly after he was born – over 20 years ago – the Ministry continues its systematic foot dragging, which has had grave consequences. The petitioner spent many years as a persecuted man, frequently exposed to detentions, arrests and deportation; he has no right to work or study, nor is he entitled to social benefits. 

The petition emphasizes that a person's right to be a subject of a State is a basic right, which forms part of the fundamental human rights to liberty and dignity. The fact that the Interior Ministry has refrained from legalizing the petitioner's status ever since he was a boy, stands in complete contradiction to the Ministry's obligation as a governmental authority - to protect a person's life, bodily integrity and dignity. Failing to legalize the petitioner's status in Israel also contravenes international law and Israel’s obligations under it, as well as the State authority's obligation to act fairly, reasonably, and with due haste. 

Following the submission of the petition, the Court issued an interim order instructing the respondents to refrain from deporting the petitioner from Israel until the conclusion of the proceedings on the petition.  

To view the petition (Hebrew)