First publication: The prosecution's absurd leniency for illegal residents from the West Bank

A court ruling reveals a 2024 directive from the prosecution stating that illegal residents over 50 or those who previously held entry permits will not be prosecuted for the first two detentions. The directive was issued due to a shortage of detention facilities.

A recent court ruling has uncovered a 2024 directive from the prosecution, stating that illegal residents (shabahim) over the age of 50, or those who previously held an entry permit to Israel, will not be prosecuted for the first two detentions. The directive was issued against the backdrop of a severe shortage of detention facilities and the difficulty of the enforcement system in dealing with the large number of illegal residents. In practice, this means that male illegal residents in these groups may be caught twice without an indictment, and only upon the third detention will criminal proceedings be considered. The article presents the directive as a significant leniency, using the word "absurd" in the headline, but does not include the prosecution's position or detailed reasoning for the decision.