Ministers introduce plan to limit the High Court of Justice

Published: 18 September 2017

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's initiative would limit the High Court of Justice from intervening and deprive the court of the power to disqualify a basic law. Controversial 'Nation-State Law' has been submitted.

Right-wing Israeli Ministers Introduce Plan Targeting High Court's Powers (Haaretz)
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Thursday the introduction of a new basic law that would limit the authority of the High Court of Justice to strike down laws. The High Court has the power to interpret legislation and disqualify law in accordance with its interpretation (Sep 15)

Labor head: Shaked-Bennett proposal will ‘destroy independence of judiciary’ (Times of Israel)
Avi Gabbay blasts Jewish Home leaders' plan to allow Knesset to re-legislate bills struck down by top court; economy minister, from Kulanu party, backs initiative (Sep 16)

Jewish Law Should Not Be Above Israel's Democratic Values, Knesset Counsel Says (Haaretz)
Legal opinion comes as committee convenes Monday to discuss controversial nation-state bill (Sep 17)

Israeli Bill Prescribes Jewish Law in Absence of Legal Precedent (Haaretz)
The proposal of the so-called 'Nation-State Law' has been submitted as a regular law rather than as a basic law, which has constitutional status

Photo: Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett in the Knesset in 2016 (Olivier Fitoussi).