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.

|ByKESHET NEEV
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

The visit was made to the Neve Tzedek Military Prison, and Deri was accompanied by other lawmakers from his party, including MK Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton.

|ByKESHET NEEV
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

For Prof. Yoram Rabin, a criminal and constitutional law scholar and president of the College of Management Academic Studies, the law is both a moral rupture and a legally vulnerable one.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Matanyahu Englman

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

With the state comptroller blocked, citizens must focus on the questions a future inquiry into the failures leading up to the October 7 massacre.

|ByYISRAEL MEDAD

A-G's office argues High Court can strike down basic law

Basic laws lack clear boundaries as the Knesset has failed to pass Basic Law: Legislation to establish the rules for the articles.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
Attorney Aner Helman with Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon at a court hearing on petitions against the government's "Reasonableness Standard Bill", at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. September 12, 2023.

Knesset Speaker: High Court has no authority to strike down basic laws

Amir Ohana warned that a ruling to strike down a basic law would be "against the Knesset and Israeli democracy."

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023ByARIELLA MARSDEN
Knesset speaker Amir Ohana holds a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem. September 6, 2023.

The High Court process: How the judicial reform hearing will happen - explainer

The High Court of Justice hearing on the reasonableness standard will be presided over by all 15 justices, which has never been done before. Here's the process for how it will work.

AUGUST 26, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
HISTORIC HEARING: All 15 judges will preside (Illustrative).

Gov't demands High Court postpone reasonableness clause hearing

If postponed, the hearing may come at a time when High Court President Esther Hayut and a justice are set to retire.

AUGUST 18, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
High Court hears petitions on against the incapacitation law on August 3, 2023.

What are the chances Israel could have a constitution?

LEGAL AFFAIRS: The creation of a constitution is plagued with its own share of disagreements and challenges.

AUGUST 4, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
DAVID BEN-GURION reading the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel.

High Court unlikely to strike down law protecting Netanyahu - analysis

The problems with the incapacitating law are nothing personal.

AUGUST 3, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin are seen in a goveernment cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, April 2, 2023

High Court to discuss Netanyahu's Incapacitation Law after A-G attack

High Court President Esther Hayut, Vice President Uzi Vogelman, and Justice Yitzhak Amit will preside over the hearing in which arguments will be made about the Basic Law: The Government amendment.

AUGUST 1, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
SUPREME COURT President Esther Hayut attends a conference in Haifa, in January. Would the Supreme Court nullify Knesset legislation as readily today as it did six months ago? It should be clear to all that it will not, says the writer.

NGO to attorney general: Does reasonableness law apply to West Bank?

Yesh Din argued that only the military had the authority to set rules and regulations in the West Bank.

JULY 30, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is flanked by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the Knesset on Monday, before the vote on the reasonableness bill.

High Court hearing on new law set for after summer recess

A barrage of petitions was filed against the reasonableness bill on Monday and Tuesday, after it had passed in a dramatic Knesset voting session on Monday.

JULY 26, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
OPPOSITION MKS wrap themselves in Israeli flags during the Knesset vote on judicial reform on Monday night.

Can Israel's High Court cancel the newly-passed judicial reform law?

The basic laws are the fundamental legal framework under which the power of judicial review exists.

JULY 25, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity leader MK Benny Gantz are seen moving to shake hands in the Knesset amid the vote on the controversial reasonableness standard bill, in Jerusalem, on Monday, July 24, 2023.