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

Labor presents mock bill to place Arye Deri 'above Israeli law'

The proposed bill would edit the Basic Law - the Government to state that Deri could not be tried for theft, corruption or tax offenses.

FEBRUARY 9, 2023ByTZVI JOFFRE
ARYE DERI gives the thumbs-up sign on Wednesday outside his Har Nof home in Jerusalem.

Israeli judicial reform bill will split into two, Yariv Levin confirms

The coalition will likely first focus on changing the makeup of the judicial appointments committee and limiting the High Court of Justice's power to strike down laws, according to a report.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Israel's Justice Minister Yariv Levin holds a press conference at the Knesset, the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 4, 2023.

Judicial reform change offers concession – here’s why critics rejected it

Former justice minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the change, saying that "there is no fundamental change in MK Rothman's 'new' proposal.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
MK Simcha Rothman, Head of the Constitution Committee leads a committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on January 17, 2023.

Basic Law for basic laws: Solving Israel's judicial reform dispute - opinion

Such a plan to solve the judicial crisis seizes the moral high ground by creating a system that is not only just but simple and stable.

FEBRUARY 6, 2023ByMICHAEL SEGAL
OPPOSITION LEADER Yair Lapid has proposed that President Isaac Herzog set up a commission to examine the matter of judicial reform.

MKs clash over judge selection in law committee session

Committee chairman Simcha Rothman introduced an analysis that compared judicial review in other countries.

JANUARY 30, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
MK Simcha Rothman attends a committee meeting at the Knesset, January 17, 2023.

Gov't aims to reappoint disgraced Deri by amending Basic Law

The accompanying text that explains the law argues that the appointment and removal of ministers are at the "heart of democratic activity."

JANUARY 30, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen during a Shas party meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 23, 2023.

Gantz to Netanyahu: Form multi-party committee to debate judicial reform

Gantz's proposal came after Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced his plan for legal reform on Wednesday evening.

JANUARY 5, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
If he only knew then. Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu sign their coalition agreement on April 20 in Jerusalem.

Deri's criminal offenses make minister appointment unreasonable - A-G

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara also referred to the legal process of allowing Deri's appointment as "changing the 'rules of the game.'"

JANUARY 4, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Newly appointed Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara seen during a welcome ceremony for her in Jerusalem on February 8, 2022.

Netanyahu supports cancelling law banning racists from Knesset

The new law that the Likud plans to bring will replace clause in Basic Law that bars racists and terrorists from running for office.

DECEMBER 25, 2022ByELIAV BREUER
Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu meets Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir in Tel Aviv on November 7, 2022.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

I shall be delighted to be able to admit in a year or so, that the pudding was not as bad as I feared, but I am skeptical.

DECEMBER 19, 2022BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF
MK ITAMAR Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai attend a committee meeting in the Knesset, last week.