Basic Law

Netanyahu’s haredi gamble may become his biggest election liability - analysis

Years of concessions to haredi partners may now pose a political risk for Netanyahu, as right-wing voters express growing anger over the draft exemption issue.

|ByHERB KEINON
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is seen walking past haredi lawmaker Yitzhak Goldknopf, at the Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.
NETZAH YEHUDA soldiers at the dedication of a Torah scroll at the Erez Crossing.

Israel just gave Torah study a constitution. It should have given its soldiers one - opinion

Without Torah, there would be no Jewish people. Without the Jewish people, there is no State of Israel. That is precisely why what the Knesset has done is so offensive.

|BySTEVEN ABRAHAM
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote at the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 16, 2026.

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.

|BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF
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

Leadership is supposed to be about making difficult decisions for the good of the country, even when they carry political costs. What we saw this week is the opposite.

|ByYAAKOV KATZ

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.

Israel needs a constitution to avoid crisis - analysis

Opposition and protest leaders said immediately after the Knesset vote that the real struggle begins now. 

JULY 25, 2023ByHERB KEINON
Protest against the government's judicial reform, July 24, 2023.