February 18, 2008

Israel’s Supreme Court has given the government 60 days to explain why police roadblocks are set up in East Jerusalem to check if passing motorists have debts to the income tax authority. The Court also ordered the government to stop setting up the checkpoints and impounding the cars of debtors while the case is being heard.

Flagship NIF grantee Association for Civil Rights in Israel petitioned the Supreme Court on the matter, claiming that the roadblocks cause inconvenience and indignity and violate the law because the tax authority must notify a citizen by mail if they have a debt before impounding vehicles. Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch described the income tax checkpoints as a “kangaroo court.”