Judicial Reform

Israel needs a thin constitution to bridge its political divide - opinion

Israel’s opposition has put a constitution on the agenda, but a broad consensus may require a narrower approach focused on government institutions.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, flanked by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, in the Knesset on the day of the vote on the reasonableness law, July 24.
Screengrab from the Religious Zionist Party's recent campaign video showing the arrest of Israeli judicial officials, September 15, 2026.

WATCH: RZP releases AI video showing arrests of judicial officials as part of election campaign

MK Tally Gotliv at Knesset House Committee debate on granting her immunity Monday June 15, 2026.

MK Tally Gotliv says she would consider joining Ben-Gvir if 'good concrete offer' presented

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and his advisor Yoav Horowitz (R) arrive to attend the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on September 3, 2017. (Photo by ABIR SULTAN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Netanyahu chief of staff Horowitz reveals tensions with PM's family


Sa'ar's judicial compromise missing critical piece of agreement - analysis

Without regard to Gideon Sa'ar, dropping the basic laws aspect of the compromise is a mega event.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (L) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (R) at the Supreme Court (illustrative)

Knesset committee begins rejecting opposition objections as they advance judicial appointment bill

So far, the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee has rejected 2,700 out of 70,000 objections. The coalition enjoys a majority in the committee.

 Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman leads a vote during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, in the Israeli parliament on March 17, 2025.

Controversial judicial watchdog bill passes, Lapid promises to repeal

Known colloquially as the “judicial watchdog,” the ombudsman is responsible for hearing complaints against all judges with statutory powers.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin seen in the Knesset plenum, in Jerusalem, December 4, 2024

Why politicizing judicial appointments is dangerous for Israel - opinion

The framework eliminates the current supermajority requirement for appointing Supreme Court justices and replaces it with mutual veto power for the coalition and opposition.

 Then-Supreme Court president Esther Hayut and all 15 justices assemble to hear petitions against the reasonableness standard law in the High Court of Justice, in Jerusalem, September 2023.

The unaccountable few: How Israel’s justice system undermines democracy - opinion

According to polls, even among the supporters of the opposition parties, 80% think the Israeli judicial system is in need of reform. We should make Israel a democracy again.

 Israelis are seen protesting judicial reform, in Tel Aviv.

The Israel-Hamas War has presented necessity, opportunity for judicial reform - opinion

The path forward is clear: well-timed and measured reform that brings Israel’s judicial system closer to accepted democratic norms while maintaining appropriate checks and balances.

 JUSTICE MINISTER Yariv Levin (right) and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, a former justice minister, attend a Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting last week. Their proposal is significantly better than the original plan that roiled the country in 2023, but has substantial flaws

IDF chief Halevi to fly to US for first and only visit of term

The fact that he has never visited as IDF chief also explains why Halevi's trip is a full three days, whereas typically, such a trip might only be one or two days.

 IDF CHIEF OF STAFF Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi attends a state ceremony in October marking the first anniversary of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.

Return of judicial reform: Knesset committee prepares new Sa'ar-Levin bill

The new bill is based on a joint proposal by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and is expected to pass into law by the end of February.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (L) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (R) at the Supreme Court (illustrative)

Legislation of Levin-Sa’ar judicial reform compromise to begin next week

The initial bill was approved for its second and third reading in March 2023, but was frozen after mass protests broke out in the wake of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s warning.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (L) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (R) at the Supreme Court (illustrative)

Former A-G Mandelblit: Judicial reform compromise is 'rotten,' will weaken High Court - exclusive

Sa'ar and Levin pitched the proposal as "evolutionary and not revolutionary," but according to Mandelblit, the proposal was indeed revolutionary.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (L) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (R) at the Supreme Court (illustrative)