Declaring a Closed Military Zone Near the IDF Chief of Staff's Home
- ACRI
- Sep 9
- 2 min read
On September 7, 2025, the media reported that following anti-war protests in Moshav Ramot HaShavim near the home of the IDF Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, the area was declared a military zone. According to the report, the order permits residents to enter the area, as well soldiers and police officers who are required to enter the area to carry out their work. Civilians who are not residents of the closed area may enter it only after undergoing identification and security checks.
The next day we appealed to the Chief of Staff and the Commander of the Home Front Command requesting that the order be repealed. In the appeal, Attorney Nitsan Ilani argued that declaring an area as a closed military zone for the purpose of suppressing legitimate protest in a democratic state is unlawful and sets a dangerous precedent. Emergency regulations do authorize the military commander to declare a closed military zone, but the use of military powers to close an area and impose movement restrictions should only be done under exceptional circumstances, whether it is done in the West Bank or within the State of Israel. To exercise of these military powers within the State of Israel for the purpose of suppressing legitimate protest constitutes a blatant deviation from the authority given to the military commander. The appeal further argued that the order is a major and disproportionate violation of fundamental constitutional rights: freedom of movement, personal liberty, the right to privacy, and freedom of expression.
Later that evening the media reported that the Chief of Staff ordered the revocation of the order. The report alleged that the demonstrations were not the reason for its issuance.
ACRI’s appeal, September 8, 2025 (Heb)
