Basic Law

This time, the Supreme Court must not blink - opinion

In every election cycle, a familiar scenario unfolds in which the Central Elections Committee disqualifies parties from running for the Knesset, a decision that has almost always been overturned.

|ByORI WERTMAN
Central Elections Committee Chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, leads a hearing on a request to disqualify Balad chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh at the Central Elections Committee at the Knesset in Jerusalem, September 23, 2026.
Head of the Balad party MK Sami Abu Shehadeh arrives to cast his vote a voting station, on November 1, 2022; illustrative.

Balad chairman barred from running in election following 31-4 Central Elections Committee vote

The decision is not final. Under Basic Law: The Knesset, the disqualification of an individual candidate requires Supreme Court approval before taking effect.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
MK Ofer Cassif attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on January 30, 2024

Election panel votes to bar Ofer Cassif from Knesset race, Supreme Court review set for next week

The proceedings opened with a separate request to disqualify MK Ofer Cassif. The committee was also scheduled to consider the case against Abu Shehadeh on Wednesday.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrive to cast their vote at a polling station in Jerusalem, August 17, 2026

Israel’s next government must save the country before it is too late - opinion

Israel faces a historic crisis, and its next government must act urgently to restore democracy, rebuild alliances, reform society and secure the country’s future.

|ByDAN PERRY

The major legal issues of the last 75 years that altered Israeli society

LEGAL AFFAIRS: Consulting with Israel's legal professionals has exposed major issues that have plagued the Israeli public since the state was founded.

APRIL 29, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
THE SUPREME COURT in Jerusalem – a focus of change in Israeli society over the last 75 years.

Will the Knesset be back to judicial reform mayhem post-recess?

Political affairs: The new Knesset’s first session was dominated by the judicial overhaul controversy. What should we expect when it resumes its activity on April 30?

APRIL 8, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
MEMBERS OF THE opposition react during a past speech by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Knesset.

What is in Herzog’s judicial reform ‘People’s Outline?’ - explainer

President Isaac Herzog presented his judicial reform outline on Wednesday night

MARCH 15, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
The High Court of Justice during a hearing

'Deri Law 2.0' passes committee vote, heads to plenum for first reading

The law proposal's purpose is to enable Netanyahu to reinstate Deri after the High Court struck down his appointment last month.

MARCH 15, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Head of the Shas party Aryeh Deri, leads a faction meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on February 6, 2023.

Impairment Law passes in special committee vote to go to Knesset

The Impairment Law amends a provision in the quasi-constitutional Basic Law: Government and will now proceed to an initial Knesset vote.

MARCH 13, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
MK Simcha Rotman, Head of the Constitution Committee, at a committee vote on the judicial reform legislation at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on March 5, 2023.

Judicial reform legislation to barrel ahead this week

Herzog warned that the legislation being prepared for readings in the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee “is wrong, predatory and dismantles our democratic foundations..."

MARCH 11, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
MK Simcha Rotman, Head of the Constitution Committee, at a committee vote on the judicial reform legislation at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on March 5, 2023.

Lapid calls to write Israeli constitution in response to judicial reform

The Declaration of Independence has no formal legal status in the Israeli government system, which Lapid proposed should be changed by making the document the first chapter of a new constitution.

MARCH 10, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
Israel's Declaration of Independence

Judicial reform bills to be sent to Knesset in two committee votes on Sunday

In a move that surprised and angered coalition committee members, committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman had decided to hold the revision vote on Sunday.

MARCH 4, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
OPPOSITION MKS wrap themselves in Israeli flags during the Knesset vote on judicial reform on Monday night.

Simcha Rothman: Everyone understands there is a need for judicial reform

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Constitution Law and Justice Committee chair Simcha Rothman is confident that judicial reform will lead to true democracy for Israel.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
The man transforming the judicial system: Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman

'Deri Law,' 'Override Law' pass preliminary reading on Knesset floor

Parliament okays a number of controversial laws in voting marathon

FEBRUARY 22, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
ARYE DERI, head of the Shas Party, leads a faction meeting in the Knesset this week.