On November 19, 2009, the Hight Court of Justice invalidated an amendment to the Prisons Ordinance that would have allowed for the establishment of a private prison run by a private corporation.

In her ruling, Chief Justice Dorit Beinish held the transfer of control over Israel's prisons from the State to private hands would constitute a severe violation of prisoners' basic human rights.

Justice E. Levy, in the minority opinion, wrote that it was too early to determine that the proposed amendment is unconstitutional, as it has not been implemented yet.

For the Hebrew version of the Judgment, click here.