Freedom of Movement for the Residents of Jisr az-Zarqa
- ACRI
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
On January 12, 2026, ACRI petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of six residents of the town of Jisr az-Zarqa, demanding the removal of concrete barriers that the police placed at the entrance to the town and within two of its neighborhoods. The barriers at the entrance to the town narrow the traffic lanes, obstruct vehicle movement, and endanger drivers; the barriers within the neighborhoods prevent passage by pedestrians or vehicles. The barriers are not accompanied by police presence at the sites, and at the time that we filed the petition, they had been in place for two weeks with no plans for removal. According to the police, the barriers were set up as a means to combat crime.
The petition argues that the barriers majorly restrict the freedom of movement for residents, both on foot and by vehicle, disconnect entire neighborhoods from the town center, and are ongoing violations of the rights of the petitioners and thousands of innocent residents to freedom of movement, dignity, health, education, and equality. The police do not have the authority to erect the barriers, and it was carried out without any legal basis or order. It is a collective punishment placed without establishing any kind of timeline for their removal and without considering the impact on local residents, especially the elderly, people with disabilities, students, and the sick. Even if the police did have the authority to set up the barriers, the decision to block or restrict access to a town in Israel in a sweeping and prolonged manner is a disproportionate and extremely unreasonable response to crime.
It should also be noted that the placement of barriers in Jisr az-Zarqa is the latest in a series of actions undertaken by the police in recent months to restrict the movement of Arab citizens and residents in Israeli Arab towns. Barriers have also been placed in the towns of Fureidis, Lakiya, Tel Sheva, and Tarabin. This is an enforcement measure that the police would not consider using in Jewish towns, even in situations when there is serious crime.
HCJ 33581-01-26 Amash v. Israel Police
Attorneys: Abeer Jubran, Nitsan Ilani
The Petition, January 12, 2026 (Heb)
