Law to Cancel the Reasonableness Standard

Vogelman: Reform ruling part of constitutional process, need last Basic Law

Acting Supreme Court president Uzi Vogelman called to permanently fill the top justice position.

|ByMICHAEL STARR
Supreme Court justice Uzi Vogelman at the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem, on December 31, 2023
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir attends the weekly government conference, held at the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's Old City on May 21, 2023.

Israel's top court rejects petition to remove Ben-Gvir from power

"We must define the limits of the reason of reasonableness," Justice Noam Sohlberg stated in his verdict.

|ByAVRAHAM BLOCH
A FULL PANEL of 15 justices sits for a High Court hearing on the legislation regarding the reasonableness standard, in September.

Israeli legal scholar quests need for striking down reasonableness law

Prof. Shahar Lifshitz of Bar-Ilan University suggests a more nuanced approach in formulating Basic Laws and urges caution in celebrating the High Court's decision.

|ByBINI ASCHKENASY
JUSTICE MINISTER Yariv Levin speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset plenum last month. In its decision, the High Court essentially dissolves the Knesset, irrespective of the individuals occupying its seats, the writer argues.

Israel is at a dangerous political junction

The overwhelming majority supporting the court’s bold and potentially perilous intervention in the Basic Law underscores a shared perspective among the judges appointed to the Supreme Court. 

|ByOMER DOSTRI

Israel passed the ‘banana republic’ test - opinion

By narrowing the reasonableness clause, Israel proved it is a vibrant democracy with a military that is subordinate to the elected government and not vice versa.

AUGUST 4, 2023ByYARON SCHWARTZ
RESERVE SOLDIERS sign a statement saying they will not continue to do military service, as part of a protest against the government’s judicial reform, in Tel Aviv, last month.

The impact of a full High Court bench on Israel's judicial reform law - analysis

Assembling all 15 justices for the first time could indicate that the court believes the case to be extremely notable.

AUGUST 1, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
SUPREME COURT Justice Uzi Fogelman takes his seat for a High Court hearing in Jerusalem. The writer asks: How can a court declare a law unconstitutional when there is no constitution?

Is Israel's new judicial reform law leverage for Netanyahu? - analysis

The prime minister sends a message that the coalition doesn't need the opposition to negotiate to advance its judicial agenda.

JULY 31, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu holds last Sunday’s cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, as Justice Minister Yariv Levin looks on.