A day after the petition was filed against the Tel Aviv Municipality's decision that forbade Rosh Yehudi from holding the organization's Sukkot events in the city, the court today (Friday) asked the parties to come to an understanding regarding the Sukkot events.
The judge's decision stated that an interim order would not be granted in light of Rosh Yehudi's request, but asked the parties to come to an agreement "in the spirit of the holiday." Judge Magen Altuvia wrote in the ruling: "I did not find in the respondent's notice (hereinafter: Tel Aviv Municipality) that extraneous or invalid considerations were applied by it, giving the court the authority and justification to intervene in the discretion of a body such as the respondent."
According to him: "The consideration of maintaining public order and public safety is not a flawed, invalid, discriminatory consideration or one that gives this court the authority to interfere in the discretion of an administrative body due to any of the grounds recognized in administrative law. The petitioners do not present an actual argument in this regard."
It is further stated: "In their petition, the petitioners stand by their claims, including regarding the need for gender separation and their right to it, and assert decisive determinations made by the Supreme Court on Saturday as a high court of justice in this matter. Thus, the petitioners ignore the respondent's claims regarding the violation of the conditions of the permit given to petitioner 1 in connection with the Yom Kippur prayers and the events that took place further to this, the petitioners do not present any sureties, guarantees, or any commitment to comply with the provisions of the canceled original permit.
Rosh Yehudi: "Tel Aviv municipality chose the side of the gods"
'Rosh Yehudi' said following the decision: "Tel Aviv Municipality canceled our events because they chose the violent side and blamed the victim. The protesters who came to the square had a goal to destroy the prayer and it doesn't matter by what means."
According to them: "We are willing to negotiate with the municipality in order to reach agreements on how to manage the events and ask for business-like conduct on the part of the Tel Aviv municipality."
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel commented on the decision: "A day when a judge in a district court does not know the plain language of the basic law is Yom Kippur for the system." The justice system desperately needs trust and that's not how you build it.'
As published yesterday, the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa issued a letter about the cancellation of the permits given to the "Rosh Yehudi" organization to hold events in the public space during Sukkot. This is in view of the violation of the municipality's instructions and the court's decision by the members of the association on the eve of Yom Kippur. The permit cancellation letter was given to the association after a hearing was held on the matter due to its violation of the terms of the permit granted to it for Yom Kippur prayers in Dizengoff Square by placing a stage without the required permit and using physical means of gender separation contrary to the municipality's policy.