Adalah’s Case Regarding Announcements in the Arabic-Language Media is Transferred to the Supreme Court
Today, Adalah submitted a petition to the Supreme Court against Haifa Municipality for refusing to publish its public announcements in the Arabic-language media. The case originally came before the District Court of Haifa, which decided to transfer the case to the Supreme Court. The District Court decided on the transfer because it considers the status of the Arabic language to be a national matter which must be heard before the Supreme Court. This decision reflects the ambiguity between the jurisdiction of civil courts and that of the Supreme Court. The decision also sets an unfortunate precedent of transferring all cases regarding the Arabic language directly to the Supreme Court, making it the first and final venue for these cases.
In July 2000, Adalah filed an appeal to the District Court of Haifa requesting that the Court issue a declaratory order against the Municipality of Haifa for its refusal to publish its public announcements in the Arabic-language media. Currently, the Municipality publishes its announcements only in the Hebrew-language media, despite the fact that 14% of Haifa’s residents are Arab.
In its appeal, Adalah claimed that by not publishing its public announcements in the Arabic-language media, the Municipality discriminates against Haifa’s Arab residents concerning the receipt of vital information about the Municipality’s services. Adalah further asserted that the Municipality’s policy disregards the safety of its Arab residents. Moreover, by refusing to publish its ads in the Arabic- language media, the Municipality violates Israeli law, which requires that all authorities in the country respect the status of Arabic as an official language of Israel.
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