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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 590

Basic Laws

Justice Minister Yariv Levin (right) and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar (left) discuss their new proposals for an overhaul of the judicial appointments process and other aspects of Israel’s constitutional order. (Screenshot from video courtesy of Justice Minister Yariv Levin (right) and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar)
January 10, 2025, 5:10 pm
Overhaul redux: Levin’s ‘compromise’ proposal would again radically constrain the judiciary
The coalition won’t be able to appoint judges by itself but judge selection would be highly politicized, Basic Laws would be immune from judicial review and other laws hard to block
By Jeremy Sharon
The United States Consulate in Jerusalem, March 4, 2019. (Ariel Schalit/AP)
October 29, 2024, 10:14 pm
Knesset passes law banning establishment of new foreign consulates in Jerusalem
Government to push for building embassies in capital, legislation won’t affect status of existing consulates in city; ‘Jerusalem is the core of our sovereignty,’ law’s sponsor says
By Sam Sokol
Illustrative: Then-Supreme Court Chief of Justice Ester Hayut and Supreme court justices at a court hearing in the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 6, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 8, 2024, 2:46 pm
Will the High Court rulings against the judicial overhaul become a permanent revolution?
Landmark decisions last week placed constraints on the Knesset’s authority over Israel’s constitutional identity, but it is not legal arguments alone that powered the shift
By Jeremy Sharon
The High Court of Justice hears petitions against the government's incapacitation law, September 28, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 3, 2024, 11:34 pm
Ministers slam High Court for delaying recusal law; one calls decision ‘null and void’
Decision to push off implementation of bill shielding PM from being ordered to recuse himself from office highlights ‘urgent need’ for judicial reform, says justice minister
By Sam Sokol and Jeremy Sharon
President of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut and justices at a High Court of Justice hearing on petitions against the government's recusal law at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, September 28, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 3, 2024, 11:34 pm
High Court delays implementation of PM recusal law, in 2nd gov’t defeat this week
Justices rule 6-5 that law shielding Netanyahu from being ordered to recuse himself due to conflict of interest is personal in nature, and can only be applied after next elections
By Jeremy Sharon
Supreme Court President Esther Hayut and all 14 other judges hear petitions against the 'reasonableness law' at the court in Jerusalem on September 12, 2023. (DEBBIE HILL / POOL / AFP)
December 28, 2023, 12:35 am
Bombshell leaked draft ruling shows High Court set to nix key judicial overhaul law
Historic 15-justice panel reportedly split 8-7 in favor of nullifying reasonableness law; judiciary slams leak, says ruling still being written; coalition MKs pan brewing decision
By Jeremy Sharon and Michael Bachner
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raises a toast at the weekly cabinet meeting ahead of the Jewish New Year, September 10, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
September 27, 2023, 2:20 pm
Sequel to constitutional showdown pits government against court on PM recusal law
Petitioners and attorney general argue that law blocking High Court from removing an incapacitated premier from office is unfit to be part of Israel’s constitutional arrangement
By Jeremy Sharon
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a conference in Tel Aviv, July 5, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90/File)
September 18, 2023, 9:33 pm
AG to court: Delay recusal law implementation so it doesn’t apply to Netanyahu
Baharav-Miara says Basic Laws ‘cannot be used as a private resource to remove personal problems from one’s path’
By Jeremy Sharon
Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, March 5, 2023. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool via AP)
September 14, 2023, 2:34 pm
Daily Briefing Sept 14: Yariv Levin’s mic drop before next week’s High Court showdown
Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur grapple with what the justice minister’s endgame is and the need for a constitution to teach us how to play it
By ToI Staff
President of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut and Supreme Court justices at the High Court in Jerusalem hear petitions against the so-called 'Tiberias law,' on July 30, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 11, 2023, 5:17 pm
Court set for fateful ‘reasonableness’ law hearing as constitutional showdown looms
Petitioners claim legislation undermines democracy; government insists court has no right to intervene. High Court justices may decide time is not ripe for such a charged decision
By Jeremy Sharon
Supreme Court President Justice Esther Hayut presides over a court hearing on the Central Election Committee's decision to disqualify the Balad party from running in the upcoming Knesset election, October 6, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 10, 2023, 3:46 pm
Judiciary vs executive: Israel’s branches of government set for unprecedented clash
High Court will review the coalition’s reasonableness law, its first legislation limiting the power of the judiciary, on Tuesday
By Jeremy Sharon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , right, converses with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana during a Likud faction meeting on February 6, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 7, 2023, 4:13 pm
Netanyahu shares Knesset speaker’s message of defiance toward High Court
PM signals support for Amir Ohana’s remark that coalition won’t accept voiding of Basic Laws; anti-overhaul protesters: PM ‘declared war on rule of law,’ aims to ‘crush the court’
By ToI Staff
Right-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government's planned judicial overhaul, outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, on April 27, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
September 7, 2023, 8:48 am
Masses expected at Jerusalem pro-overhaul rally ahead of constitutional face-off
‘Liberty Demonstration’ to be held near Supreme Court, days before justices mull voiding reasonableness law; organizers: Court lacks authority to ‘nullify the people’s choice’
By ToI Staff
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana holds a press conference at the Knesset, September 6, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 6, 2023, 10:20 pm
Knesset speaker signals coalition won’t accept High Court voiding of Basic Laws
Ahead of constitutional showdown, Amir Ohana claims justices have no power to ‘make a decision instead of elected officials,’ warns such a ruling may ‘plunge us into the abyss’
By ToI Staff
Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara speaks with Justice Minister Yariv Levin during a cabinet meeting, held at the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's Old City on May 21, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 4, 2023, 6:47 am
Levin says working with AG ‘almost impossible’ but can’t fire her just yet
Justice minister warns sacking Baharav-Miara ‘very problematic,’ not currently on agenda, following public battles relating to her opposition to coalition’s legislative positions
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
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