Basic Law

Thank goodness: The 25th Knesset has ended its days - opinion

All one can say is that hopefully the 26th Knesset will be less chaotic, less embarrassing, and more productive than the outgoing Knesset.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.
A plenum session and a vote on a bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026.

Israel's government knew the risks of haredi draft evasion – and ignored them - opinion

The Knesset plenum is seen during a vote on the communications reform, in Jerusalem, July 16, 2026

The 'most right-wing government' just outed itself as leftist - opinion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara Netanyahu, and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu attend a cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center in northern Jerusalem, July 5, 2026.

Netanyahu races to pass key laws as Israel’s October 27 election campaign begins


Weirdly, there’s nothing special about Israel’s Basic Laws - opinion

You want a judicial reform? Change the ridiculous Basic Laws setup to require a supermajority to pass and amend them.

 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.

Why did court make reasonableness standard decision in wartime? - comment

When every day soldiers are dying and fighting side by side – Rightists and Leftists, secular and religious – the last thing the country needs is a reignition of old divisions.

Supreme Court Judge Uzi Vogelman

Why is the court striking down the reasonableness law now? - analysis

The High Court struck down a basic law for the first time, essentially killing the main achievement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed 2023 judicial reform.

 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote on the reasonableness bill at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on July 24, 2023.

The judicial reform is a wholesale uprooting of the judiciary's power - opinion

This specific amendment is not a limitation placed upon the judiciary’s power of review over acts of the executive. It is indeed the uprooting of this power.

The writer wonders whether all the High Court justices themselves understand the severity of the reasonableness standard amendment.

'Veil of ignorance': Israel's A-G attacks Netanyahu's protection law

"The amendment to the Basic Law was made... with the aim of influencing [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's] pending legal proceeding."

 (L-R) Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Knesset speaker calls to replace High Court if reasonableness law struck down

Knesset speaker Amir Ohana has suggested swapping the High Court with a "constitutional court."

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

Will the High Court strike down the reasonableness law? - analysis

The reasonableness law was an amendment to a basic law, which the court believes requires a high threshold for the court to nullify.

 MK Simcha Rothman seen at the High Court hearing of the government's judicial reform reasonableness bill on September 12, 2023

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.

 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."

 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.

 HISTORIC HEARING: All 15 judges will preside (Illustrative).