Israel’s High Court of Justice on Monday afternoon 25 Adar-II announced it will not overrule a district court ruling in the case of administrative detainee Meir Ettinger. Ettinger requested to attend the bris of his firstborn son, scheduled for Monday. When a district court refused to order his release in a ruling on Sunday, an appeal was filed with the High Court.

Attorney Ariel Atari explained to the High Court that it is the family’s right to not have their son’s life begin behind prison walls, relating to the district court’s suggesting to hold the bris in Eshel Prison.

Justices Noam Solberg, Uzi Fogelman and Esther Hayut explained Ettinger poses a security threat. Even an appeal from Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita failed to persuade the court to permit Ettinger to attend the family simcha.

Ettinger is held in administrative detention since August 2015, not charged with any crime but alleged to be plotting the overthrow of the government. There have been protests around the county on his behalf but the judicial system appears adamant in its desire to back the position of the state, which prefers to keep Ettinger behind bars.

The district court on Sunday suggested holding the bris in the Eshel Prison where he is being held but his wife and family refused to consider such an option, which limits the number of participants to fifteen.

The family announced the bris would be held in Khal Chassidim at 11 HaShlah Street in the capital at 14:00.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)