Has Israel’s democracy been hijacked?
Aylana Meisel, executive director of the Israel Law & Liberty Forum, is joined by Yonatan Green, a fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for the Constitution and the author of a forthcoming book on the Israeli legal system. Green discusses two landmark judicial decisions that have intensified the high-stakes power struggle between Israel’s judiciary and elected officials.
This episode unpacks how Israel’s Supreme Court intervened in the firing of Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and overturned the government’s authority to appoint a Civil Service Commissioner, despite a clear statutory framework. Green explains why these rulings mark a qualitative shift in judicial activism and explores how they undermine both civilian control over the armed forces and democratic legitimacy.
Topics covered include:
- The court’s expansion of justiciability and erosion of legal standing
- Unprecedented judicial override of executive appointments
- Power dynamics within the judiciary and panel selection
- The cultural and institutional implications for Israeli democracy
- The rise of judicial supremacy and the diminishing role of elected officials
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The Israel Law & Liberty Forum is proud to partner with JNS to offer a platform for conservative and classical liberal legal thought from within Israel. Any opinions stated are those of the speaker and not meant to represent the positions of the forum or JNS. The forum is an organization that fosters thoughtful conversation and debate on key issues in Israeli law and democracy. The forum takes no official position regarding any specific policy issue, nor does it advance specific policies.
