Return Bail Money to Palestinians

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ACRI submitted a petition to the Supreme Court against the head of the Civil Administration, demanding the return of bail funds deposited by Palestinians for release from detention or as deposits to ensure their appearance at court. The Civil Administration has accumulated approximately 53 million shekels belonging to Palestinian residents, which it is required by law to give back. State Comptroller reports and journalistic coverage have long criticized the absence of any set procedure regulating the process of returning funds to depositors, and the fact that the bureaucratic process is so discouraging and complicated, many are unable to receive their money back. 

The petition argues that this goes against the obligations of the Civil Administration under international law. The fact that the Civil Administration continues to hold the funds is, quite frankly, theft. It is a violation of property rights and the right to due process; is blatant discrimination against a vulnerable, protected population; and exploits the understandable fear of Palestinian residents, and released detainees in particular, of making contact with the occupation authorities. In the petition, we demanded that the funds be returned to their depositors, the publication of a procedure in Arabic and Hebrew regarding the return of bail money, and the establishment of a fund for money that could not be returned to be dedicated to the welfare of the Palestinian population in the West Bank. 

The preliminary response to the petition stated that following the filing of the petition, a directive was issued regarding the return of deposits. This directive essentially directs depositors to the email addresses of the Civil Administration, the Military Prosecution, and the police, despite the language and bureaucratic barriers that prevent Palestinian residents from approaching and receiving responses from the Israeli military and police. 

During the hearing on February 17, 2025, ACRI maintained that the directive is discriminatory in comparison with the processes that apply in Israel, which requires the active return of bail money or deposits that the State has no legal grounds to continue holding. We argued that leaving tens of millions of shekels that do not belong to the Civil Administration in its coffers contradicts the principle of legality and enriches the Civil Administration at the expense of Palestinian detainees and arrestees. The court determined that the State would provide an update regarding implementation of the procedure. 

On December 2, 2025, the state filed an updated notice. In our response on December 28, 2025, we emphasized the remedies that we requested in the petition, and reiterated our demands for, among other things, the establishment of a mechanism for the proactive and active return of funds collected from Palestinian residents, and the establishment of a fund for the welfare of the Palestinian population that would make use of the funds. 

HCJ 3558/23 The Association for Civil Rights in Israel v. Head of the Civil Administration Attorneys: Roni Pelli, Reut Shaer 

The petition, May 10, 2023 (Heb) 

Preliminary response from the State, February 2025 (Heb) 

Updated response from the State, December 2025 (Heb) 

Petitioners’ response, December 2025 (Heb)