By: KTA News Team |
This week, the Minister of Justice announced the activation of the Emergency Regulations – “Entry into Israel Regulations (Procedural Rules During a Special Emergency Situation in the Appeals Tribunal), 2020.”
These regulations have a direct impact on those seeking legal remedies related to immigration, visas, and status in Israel.
What are these regulations? When do they apply? And how do they affect our clients?
These emergency regulations provide a special procedural framework for the Appeals Tribunal, which operates under Section 13K of the Entry into Israel Law, during a “Special Emergency Situation.”
Such a situation is defined as one where the normal course of life in all or part of the country is disrupted due to:
- Security threats;
- A significant risk to public health (e.g., a pandemic);
- Natural disasters.
The purpose is to allow continued legal oversight of immigration-related decisions while adjusting tribunal operations to emergency conditions.
When Are the Regulations Activated?
The regulations are not automatic. They come into effect only once the Minister of Justice issues an official notice, which defines:
- The date of commencement (can be retroactive);
- Whether the regulations apply in full or in part;
- Whether they apply to all tribunals or only to specific regions.
The notice published on the tribunal’s website, in newspapers, and in the official government gazette (Reshumot) — with the Reshumot version being legally binding.
What Cases Will Continue to Be Heard?
During the emergency period, the tribunals will hold only urgent proceedings, specifically:
- Urgent appeals (e.g., against detention for removal);
- Emergency requests for interim or temporary relief (injunctions).
- The President of the Tribunal has sole authority to determine whether a case qualifies as “urgent.”
They may also, in exceptional circumstances, decide:
- Not to hear a case, even if it is defined as urgent;
- To hear a case that is not defined as urgent.
All previously scheduled hearings that do not fall under the “urgent” category are automatically canceled and will be rescheduled after the emergency ends.
Deadlines and Time Limits Suspended
During the emergency period, time limits for procedural steps — such as submitting responses or evidence — are suspended and do not count toward statutory deadlines (except in urgent matters or if the tribunal rules otherwise).
What About Tribunal Fees?
If a fee required to initiate proceedings cannot be paid online, its payment will be postponed until the end of the emergency period, unless the tribunal decides otherwise.
Practical Takeaways – How Should Clients Respond?
At Kan-Tor & Acco, we are operating under a secure emergency framework and continue to provide urgent legal services before the Appeals Tribunal — particularly regarding:
- Deportation orders;
- Detention reviews;
Emergency stay-of-removal requests.
We recommend clients:
Please contact our team to verify the current status of your case, as many scheduled hearings have been canceled and should not be assumed to proceed as planned. We strongly advise consulting with us before taking any legal action during this period. For urgent assistance or legal advice, please reach out via our website contact form or by phone — we are here to support you, especially in times of crisis.
