Judicial system

Jewish voting: How ancient Jewish tradition helped shape modern democracy - opinion

The Mishna, as well as other rabbinic works, detail voting procedures that were revolutionary for their time and that were handed down for generations. They influence democratic procedures today.

|ByMICAH HALPERN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, cast their vote during elections for the Likud Central Committee, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center, Nov. 25, 2025.
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY President Mahmoud Abbas. Thousands of October 7 victims and their families are seeking to hold the PA civilly liable, arguing that its long-standing prisoner payment and employment policies helped sustain terrorists who return to violence.

Pay-for-slay: Could the Palestinian Authority be held legally liable for October 7?

LEGAL AFFAIRS: Thousands of plaintiffs are taking the PA to court, arguing that its financial and employment policies toward convicted terrorists create a link to the Hamas massacre.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Opposition members of Israel's Knesset leave during a preliminary vote to establish a political commission of inquiry, December 24, 2025; Illustrative.

Knesset to High Court: Judicial-selection overhaul does not justify striking down Basic Law

Under the current system, the committee includes three Supreme Court justices, two ministers, two MKs, and two representatives of the Israel Bar Association.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Iran's Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i.

Infamous 'Judge of Death' reinstated by Khamenei despite reports suggesting the conrary

Human rights organizations see Eje'i as a key figure in the Islamic Republic's repressive regime, with some naming him the "Judge of Death" for his extensive record of orchestrating mass executions.

|ByJONAH DAVIDOV, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Letter to Kohelet Forum on Israeli judicial reform, and their response - opinion

An oleh and retired South African High Court judge writes to the Kohelet Forum with concerns on Israeli judicial reform, and the forum responds.

MAY 19, 2023ByLAWRENCE NOWOSENETZ
Then-president Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for a group photo with Supreme Court justices in 2015.

Are Israel's pro-democracy protests fruitful or futile?

Protests send a strong signal regarding people’s conviction because they require more effort and sacrifice than other means of publicly expressing support for democracy.

MAY 19, 2023BySHLOMO MAITAL
An aerial view shows protesters demonstrating against the government’s judicial overhaul plan in Tel Aviv on April 29.

Neither side wants judicial reform conversation to return to Knesset

INSIDE POLITICS: The No. 1 priority on the coalition’s to-do list is to pass the 2023-2024 state budget by the end of May.

APRIL 28, 2023ByTAL SHALEV
THE KNESSET will return to session next week amid the temporary freeze in the judicial reform legislation.

Israel is in need of a new social contract - opinion

As Israel reaches its 75th anniversary, it is time to constitute a new social contract for Israel.

APRIL 19, 2023ByTAMAR HOSTOVSKY BRANDES
Israeli protesters attending a demonstration against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 27, 2023

Judicial reforms negotiations focus on Judicial Selection Committee

A six-hour session on judicial reform negotiations at Jerusalem's Waldorf Astoria Hotel was held in "good spirits"

APRIL 17, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG leads the first negotiation meeting over judicial overhaul compromises with representatives from Likud, National Unity, Yesh Atid and Labor, at the President’s Residence.

Israeli asks ChatGPT to write 'South Park' episode on judicial reform crisis

The plot of South Park episode parodying the judicial reform crisis features with Cartman as Benjamin Netanyahu, Butters as Sara Netanyahu and Kenny as Bezalel Smotrich.

APRIL 11, 2023ByWALLA! CULTURE, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the popular US comedy series South Park.

After weeks of silence, NY Rep. Ritchie Torres says he opposes Israeli judicial reform

Wegsman added that he hoped for a statement from Torres given the close ties many constituents in Riverdale have to Israel. 

APRIL 11, 2023ByJACOB HENRY/JTA
Representative Ritchie Torres speaks during the House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, US, September 30, 2021.

Checks and balances: The never-ending battle in Israeli democracy - opinion

Israel’s current political leadership in its hostility to what it perceives as too liberal a court is attempting to increase its power by eliminating the perpetual tension.

APRIL 10, 2023ByMICHAEL PARTEM
THEN-PRESIDENT Reuven Rivlin votes in the Knesset election, in Jerusalem, in March 2021. Voting in Israel is solely limited to a single ballot cast for a political party, not an individual.

Tens of thousands protest judicial reform for 13th consecutive week

Netanyahu's former chief of staff was seen at the Tel Aviv judicial reform protests, along with opposition politicians and Netanyahu's cousin.

APRIL 1, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, MICHAEL STARR
Demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv

How can the coalition and opposition compromise on judicial reform?

LEGAL AFFAIRS: As both sides of the judicial reform debate finally come to the table together, what are the possible outcomes of their anticipated meetings?

APRIL 1, 2023ByMICHAEL STARR
PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG leads the first negotiation meeting over judicial overhaul compromises with representatives from Likud, National Unity, Yesh Atid and Labor, at the President’s Residence.