Israeli Minister of Justice Yariv Levin made headlines by appointing Yona Sharkey, a lawyer with a history of opposing residency rights for non-Jews, to a judgeship in the immigration appeals court. Sharkey, who previously served as legal advisor for the right-wing organization "Israeli Immigration Policy Center", still appears as an authorized signatory for the organization despite having officially resigned months earlier. This raises questions about the impartiality and suitability of his appointment given his previous advocacy against non-Jewish residency in Israel.

Sharkey has been a vocal critic of the Israeli Supreme Court, arguing that it undermines Israel's identity as a Jewish state. His appointment is significant not only because of his past activism but also due to the larger context of Israel's immigration policies, which have increasingly focused on restricting the immigration rights of non-Jews. Levin's decision to place someone with such a controversial position in a judiciary role has sparked concerns about the future of immigration law and the rights of individuals in Israel who do not identify as Jewish.

The implications of this appointment extend beyond the legal realm into the societal fabric of Israel, where discussions about national identity, immigration, and state policies regarding non-Jews are particularly sensitive. Critics fear that appointing someone with Sharkey's track record may influence court decisions in ways that could further marginalize non-Jewish populations in Israel, leading to potential increases in legal challenges and public unrest surrounding immigration issues.