Expanded panel of justices to rule on harsher terms for terror suspects

By DAN IZENBERG
The High Court of Justice has decided to appoint an expanded panel of justices to hear a petition filed by three human rights groups and an appeal by the Public Defender's Office against a provisional law imposing harsher detention terms for security suspects than ordinary criminal suspects. A brief hearing was held on Sunday, but the written decision was published on Tuesday. Among its various measures, the law allows for a suspect's remand to be extended without the suspect being brought to court. Jerusalem District Public Defenders David Halevy and R. Zuabi appealed against the remand of a security suspect without him being present, while Adalah, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel and the Public Committee against Torture in Israel called for the rejection of the entire law.