Basic Law

Ministerial committee approves Torah Study bill amid coalition tensions

Netanyahu’s coalition advances the Torah Study law, despite opposition and warnings that the bill could worsen draft evasion amid Israel’s manpower shortage.

Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri seen during a Shas party meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 23, 2023.
SHAS PARTY leader Arye Deri visits military prison expressing support for draft evaders, Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Deri says Shas supports draft evaders during prison visit, calls to add Torah study to Basic Law

A VOTE on the death penalty for terrorists who murder Israeli civilians at the auditorium in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 30, 2026.

Israel's new death penalty law marks moral break, sparks discrimination fears, expert says

Matanyahu Englman

Chaos of October 7: What any inquiry must uncover - opinion


Limits to Basic Law

When basic laws are easily amended, where the legislature is composed of a single chamber, with government dominance in the legislation, there is a greater fear for abuse of constituent power.

The Knesset's plenum

Druze officials ask High Court to strike Jewish nation-state law

"The law transforms the country’s Druze population and other minorities, including Arabs, into second-class citizens"

The Knesset votes on the nation-state bill, July 19, 2018

Smotrich to ‘Post’: Elkin’s plan is one step before dividing Jerusalem

The plan now faces hurdles in light of changes to Basic Law: Jerusalem.

A view of Kafr Akab, one of the neighborhoods behind the security barrier that would be affected by Elkin's plan. (Udi Shaham)

Analysis: What everyone is getting wrong about the new Jerusalem Law

The bill is far more likely to be used to break off east Jerusalem villages from the capital than to actually block a peace treaty.

Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Government says it will push Jewish nation-state bill for first vote soon

Likud MK Amir Ohana, who heads the legislative committee working on the bill, told a meeting of coalition heads that the first reading is expected to take place in the next few weeks.

The Knesset building

Bill that would hinder negotiating Jerusalem’s borders goes to final vote

The legislation, an amendment to Basic Law: Jerusalem, would raise the number of MKs needed to give up Israeli sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem to 80 MKs, two-thirds of the Knesset.

THE KNESSET building.

Shaked: Nation-state bill won’t put Jewish above democratic

There are several iterations of the proposed Basic Law: The State of Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, but all declare Israel to be the nation-state of the Jewish People.

Ayelet Shaked at the 2017 JPost Annual Conference