An expanded Israeli panel of nine High Court of Justice judges has unanimously voted to strike down controversial legislation that allowed Israel to detain illegal migrants for three years without trial.

The judges ruled that the amendment to the Law for Prevention of Infiltration is unconstitutional and violates the right to liberty.

The amendment went into effect in June 2012.

Some 2,000 African migrants are currently held in Israeli detention centers, 1,750 of whom are detained as per the law. The court asserted that the state must immediately begin to examine each case individually. The judges set a 90-day deadline for the examination process.

Coalition Chairman Yariv Levin blasted the ruling, calling it a “crazy” decision that will undermine Israel’s status as a Jewish state.

“The Knesset has to pass this law anew, and put an end to the High Court’s activism, which is being instigated without any authority,” he said.

For more, go to Haaretz

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