Amichai Magen, ‘Israel’s Summer of Discontent,’ Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs
The summer of 2023 left Israeli society more divided than ever, with the direction of the Jewish state an unknown.
Yedidia Stern, The Radicalization of Israel’s Center
Dr. Yedidia Stern, President, Jewish People’s Policy Institute July 28, 2023 (By posting a guest’s views, CIE does not take a position on the contents, nor verify facts nor the assumptions presented.) Israel’s political center…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the nation on the passing of the ‘reasonableness standard.’
The Prime Minister presented the view that his coalition carried out a necessary step to ‘restore a measure of balance’ between governmental institutions. He indicated that discussions about the other elements of the proposed judicial overhaul would take place between now and November. Specifically he asked members of the Israel Defense Forces to remain outside of the current political controversies.
Protests, Civic Action and Israel’s Proposed Judicial Overhaul (video, 26:47)
July 24, 2023 Speaking within hours of the passage of legislation upending the reasonableness standard used by the Israeli Supreme Court to review laws, Hadassah Academic College Professor Doron Shultziner explains features of the protest and counterprotest movements active…
President Isaac Herzog’s Speech to Congress, 2023
In just under an hour, Herzog emphasized the special US-Israeli relationship, citing common values between the two democracies, noting, “when the US is strong, Israel is stronger. And when Israel is strong, the US is more secure.” He cited Israel’s domestic and foreign policy challenges in its 75th year.
Shukri Friedman – “Speak Out Against the Haredim? Go to Jail,” Jewish People’s Policy Institute
Jewish People’s Policy Institute Shuki Friedman, Jewish People’s Policy Institute (Opinion) By gladly posting a guest’s views, CIE does not take a position on the contents, nor verify the facts nor the assumptions presented. A…
Origins of Israeli Democracy: Jewish Political Culture and Pre-State Practice
Neither Israel’s political culture nor Israel’s democracy based on Jewish self determination simply materialized on May 15, 1948. A connection exists from Jewish self-rule in the Diaspora to Zionist political autonomy during the Yishuv and to contemporary Israeli political culture. Likewise, the origins of Israeli democracy are found in the hundreds of years of Jewish Diasporas transitioning into the Zionist movement to the state; from aliyot before the Palestine Mandate to 1948 and since. Components of Israeli political culture…
Israeli Civil Society Reactions to Judicial Overhaul Suggestions (46:27)
May 7, 2023 Firsthand Accounts of Israel’s Civil Society in Action In a 46-minute conversation recorded during the first hour of our special two-hour Israel@75 webinar and Teen Israel Leadership Institute session May 7, 2023, CIE Founding President Ken…
Stories of Israel’s Founders and the Declaration of Independence (31:47)
May 7, 2023 In a 32-minute presentation recorded during the second hour of our special two-hour Israel@75 webinar and Teen Israel Leadership Institute session May 7, 2023, Adina Karpuj, a podcast producer for Israel Story who lives in Jerusalem, talks…
Reaction and Review of the Four Elements of the Planned Overhaul of Israel’s Judiciary
Ken Stein, May 1, April 4, March 22, March 5, February 11, 2023 Four months after Benjamin Netanyahu, was sworn in as Prime Minister to lead Israel’s 37th government in late December 2022, his cabinet focused…
The Declaration of Independence
Explore the foundational text of the State of Israel.
The Israeli Government’s Proposed Judicial Overhaul: Events and Published Items, January 1, 2023 – March 28, 2023
When Israel’s government announced the elements of judicial overhaul that it was seeking, Israelis and those across the world voiced abundant and vociferous views. The media paid attention to the weekly gatherings of large crowds…
Context and Consequences of Israel’s Proposed Judicial Overhaul (1:16:00)
As Israel turns 75 this spring, it is in the throes of a dynamic controversy over governance. Where might this ‘crisis’ or potential ‘political earthquake’ fit into Zionism’s history, and Israel’s tomorrows still to come?
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s speech on pausing the judicial overhaul
Citing deep disaffection among elements of Israeli military reserve units, and expressing those concerns to Prime Minister Netanyahu privately, Gallant makes his opinion public, causing Netanyahu to fire him, resulting in hundreds of thousand of Israelis in the streets. Two days after Gallant’s speech, Netanyahu called for a pause in pushing forward the judicial overhaul legislation.
Declaration — One School’s Approach
Pressman Academy in Los Angeles, part of CIE’s Day School Initiative, has graciously shared its Megillat HaAtzmaut and accompanying, grade-specific lesson plans for exploring Israel’s Declaration of Independence at Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Reading of Megillat HaAtzmaut:…
Declaration Activity: A Look Back
This video, prepared as Israel approached its 73rd birthday in 2021, incorporates multiple perspectives on the previous year. Have members of your class, in small groups or collectively, create a similar video addressing the highs…
A “Constitutional” Democracy
Israel, like Britain, is a parliamentary democracy, but, like Britain, Israel lacks a formal constitution. The following items show how the system works and include Israel’s proposed 1948 constitution and the Basic Laws that fill…
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Two speeches to the Nation – continuing the judicial overhaul and pausing the legislative process
Prime Minister Netanyahu offers two speeches to the nation within four days, emphatically not pausing the judicial overhaul process and then calling for a pause to it. Netanyahu’s 2012 firm statement protecting the Supreme Court’s Independence is notable.
President Isaac Herzog offers a far-ranging “People’s Directive” for a compromise to the judicial overhaul controversy
President Herzog offers a compromise to the coalition’s proposed judicial overhaul in the forms of enacting a new Basic Law, and writing amendments to existing Basic Laws. Its detail suggests considerable behind the scenes discussion, and if only portions are enacted upon, this document could be seen in the future as a benchmark in Israel’s “constitutional” history.
President Isaac Herzog’s speech to the nation – Proposed Judicial Overhaul- Impact on the country
Following up his for compromise on the matter of the massive proposed judicial reform overhaul, President Isaac Herzog, in the starkest of terms, said Israel was at the “abyss of a civil war,” as opponents and proponents headed toward a consequential showdown. He characterized the attempted overhaul as “wrong, oppressive, and undermines our democratic foundations.” He suggested a wide ranging consensus compromise plan for the sides to consider. Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected Herzog’s compromise plea.
President Isaac Herzog’s Appeal to Compromise on Reform of the Judicial System
In a rare address to the nation, Herzog called for deliberate compromise in the wake of the Netanyahu government’s proposed massive overhaul of the judicial system. It generated the largest public outpouring of opposition to a proposed policy, since the issue of German reparations to Israel was considered in 1951-52. Herzog sought to calm extraordinary high emotions.
Eighteen Retired Israeli Supreme Court Judges state opposition to proposed Judicial Changes
In midst of the massive public protest against the Netanyahu government’s suggested four changes to overhaul the Israeli judicial system, In response, Israel’s Attorney General outlined her opposition to the changes and the manner in which they were taking place. Then the Israeli Supreme Court Justices petitioned the government to halt the changes and establish a public committee to review Israel’s Basic Laws, including the Seventh Basic Law (1984) on Israel’s Judiciary.
The Attorney General’s position on the draft bill Basic Law: The Judiciary
After Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara met with Israel’s newly elected Justice Minister Yariv Levin about the Netanyahu government’s proposal to overhaul the judicial system, the Attorney General crisply and cogently offers her opposition to that proposal. (Hebrew version included)
