Tel Aviv District Court Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen ruled May 17 that Israel must grant work permits to Ukrainians seeking refuge from Russia’s invasion of their country. The court was responding to an appeal filed by Ukrainian nationals Vitali Smirnov and Jonina Smernova, both in Israel since 2018. While the ruling was issued for the petitioners who arrived to Israel before the war, it is expected to be applied to other Ukrainian asylum seekers in Israel as well.
Agmon-Gonen criticized the Interior Ministry for its policies toward Ukrainian refugees, accusing Israel of violating their human rights by not allowing them to work. The judge noted, “These rights violations directly impact the ability to live in dignity.”
