Basic Law

Marathon Knesset meetings set to rapidly advance haredi parties’ contentious Torah study bill

The bill seeks to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law as part of a proposal that critics argue encourages draft evasion and changes the status of yeshiva students who do not serve.

MKS ATTEND a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on June 16, 2026.
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu is seen walking past haredi lawmaker Yitzhak Goldknopf, at the Prime Minister’s Office in 2023.

Netanyahu's political survival deal with the ultra-Orthodox comes at Israel's expense - opinion

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) anti-draft protester holds a banner reading "Even those who do not learn in Yeshiva need to stay Jewish. It's forbidden to commit spiritual suicide in the IDF's crematoriums," during an anti-draft protest at the IDF's Jerusalem recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Derech eretz lost - Why the proposed Basic Law betrays our sacred covenant - opinion

Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri seen during a Shas party meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 23, 2023.

Ministerial committee approves Torah Study bill amid coalition tensions


Deri says Shas supports draft evaders during prison visit, calls to add Torah study to Basic Law

The visit was made to the Neve Tzedek Military Prison, and Deri was accompanied by other lawmakers from his party, including MK Michael Malkieli and Haim Biton.

SHAS PARTY leader Arye Deri visits military prison expressing support for draft evaders, Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Israel's new death penalty law marks moral break, sparks discrimination fears, expert says

For Prof. Yoram Rabin, a criminal and constitutional law scholar and president of the College of Management Academic Studies, the law is both a moral rupture and a legally vulnerable one.

A VOTE on the death penalty for terrorists who murder Israeli civilians at the auditorium in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 30, 2026.

Chaos of October 7: What any inquiry must uncover - opinion

With the state comptroller blocked, citizens must focus on the questions a future inquiry into the failures leading up to the October 7 massacre.

Matanyahu Englman

What's behind bills to 'split' A-G role - and will it change Israel's legal governance? - explainer

Critics say Israel’s system lacks the structural safeguards that would prevent a weakened oversight of government actions under a divided A-G role.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin glances at Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, September 18, 2025

Full Supreme Court to hear challenge to Judicial Selection Committee law

Israel’s Supreme Court escalates its review of the Judicial Selection overhaul, assigning the case to all 11 justices and delaying hearings to June.

View of the empty courtroom at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on July 13, 2025.

High Court cancels hearing on firing of A-G Baharav-Miara after gov’t fails to send representatives

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit announced from the bench that the justices would issue their ruling based solely on the written material.

 ATTORNEY-GENERAL Gali Baharav-Miara.

Israel's A-G calls to strike down 'severely harmful' gov't reform of judicial selection

Gali Baharav-Miara warned that the new law transforms judicial appointments into a "political selection mechanism" by granting political actors a clear majority on the committee.

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara at a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, in the Israeli parliament on September 30, 2025

Herzog weighs clemency option tied to hostage deal, though no decision made yet

The President’s Residence said a request had been received that relies on past precedent and that any decision would be taken only following a full inter-agency review and legal opinions.

Israel's president Isaac Herzog at the opening ceremony of the new Knesset museum, in Jerusalem on August 11, 2025.

Knesset approves bill cancelling option to form 'rotation governments'

The law was passed after discussions that lasted several weeks and ended with agreements between the coalition and the opposition.

Prime Minister Benjamn Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the swearing in of the new government

Attorney-General grants authorities permission to carry out investigation of PMO - report

Following the Attorney General's decision to grant approval, investigators are authorized to proceed with investigative actions against the prime minister.

 Israeli attorney general Gali Baharav Miara at a farewell ceremony for retiring acting Supreme Court President Uzi Vogelman, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on October 1, 2024.