Israel's Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this eighth episode of our limited series podcast, Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with Dr. Susan Weiss about how the proposed legislation may affect women's rights. Weiss is the founder and director of the Center for Women’s Justice, an NGO defending women's rights whenever they are violated by the state in the name of religion. We speak about five main areas in which implementation of the override clause "should terrify women." Ahead of a live-streamed Times of Israel event on judicial reform that took place in Jerusalem's Israel Democracy Institute on December 15, Weiss wrote an op-ed exploring these themes for The Times of Israel explaining her viewpoints. Subscribe to 'Israel’s Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts.  IMAGE: Dr. Susan Weiss, head of the Center for Women's Justice (courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this seventh episode of our limited series podcast, Noa Sattath, the Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), speaks on how minorities have utilized the High Court to broaden their civil rights. She says she is often disappointed by rulings, but staunchly defends the right to seek them. Sattath spoke at a Times of Israel live-streamed event on December 15 at the IDI in Jerusalem on the topic of judicial reform. In this episode, which is a session from that event, Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Sattath and asks some follow-up questions. Future episodes will include remarks from other speakers about specific cases of using a tactic of strategic litigation to broaden human rights. Subscribe to 'Israel’s Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts.  IMAGE: Rabbi and attorney Noa Sattath, executive director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this sixth episode of our limited series podcast, Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz speaks about her work in the areas of religion and state at the Israel Democracy Institute. She explains that the courts have continuously asked lawmakers to create legislation, but ended up reluctantly making rulings, for example in cases of Jewish status. Ravitsky Tur-Paz spoke at a Times of Israel live-streamed event on December 15 at the IDI in Jerusalem on the topic of judicial reform. In this episode, which is a session from that event, Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Ravitsky Tur-Paz and asks some follow-up questions. Future episodes will include remarks from other speakers about specific cases of using a tactic of strategic litigation to broaden human rights. Subscribe to 'Israel’s Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts.  IMAGE: Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, the director of the IDI’s Religion and State Program at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this fifth episode, Adv. Yonatan Green argues that the override clause is not all bad. He refutes previous speakers’ statements and asserts that the court has assumed the power of judicial review without any legal authorization. Green is the Executive Director of the Israel Law & Liberty Forum. He is a licensed attorney in Israel and in the State of New York, and obtained his degree in Law and Communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Yonatan and asks some follow-up questions. Future episodes will include remarks from other speakers about specific cases of using a tactic of strategic litigation to broaden human rights. Subscribe to 'Israel’s Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts.  IMAGE: Adv. Yonatan Green of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this fourth episode, Dr. Tamar Hostovsky Brandes argues that undermining the powers of the courts is a common tactic adopted by regimes that seek to restrain democratic rights. Brandes teaches and researches in the areas of international and constitutional law, focusing on the intersection between international law, constitutional law, and political theory. Her work in these areas has been published in leading law reviews and collections. Her article, “The diminishing status of international law in the decisions of the Israeli Supreme Court concerning the Occupied Territories” won the 2021 International Journal of Constitutional Law Best Article award. Brandes spoke at a Times of Israel live-streamed event on December 15 at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on the topic of judicial reform. Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Brandes and asks some follow-up questions. IMAGE: Dr. Tamar Hostovsky Brandes of the Ono Academic College Faculty of Law at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this third episode, Prof. Moshe Koppel objects to what he describes as the unchecked and unbalanced power of the court, which he says has decided that every issue is justiciable and that anyone has the standing to petition the court. Koppel is a professor (emeritus) of computer science at Bar-Ilan University and the founding chairman of the Kohelet Policy Forum. His most recent book is "Judaism Straight Up: Why Real Religion Endures." Koppel spoke at a Times of Israel live-streamed event on December 15 at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem on the topic of judicial reform. Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Koppel and asks some follow-up questions. IMAGE: Prof. Moshe Koppel at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this second episode, Prof. Amichai Cohen gives an overview of the historical balance of power of Israel’s judiciary. Cohen is a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute's Center for Security and Democracy.  He is a member of the Faculty of Law at Ono Academic College and previously served as its Dean. Cohen has written numerous books, including his 2020 work on Israel’s Supreme Court entitled: "The Constitutional Revolution and Counter-Revolution," where he explained the changing role of the High Court of Justice in maintaining the checks and balances of Israeli democracy. Cohen spoke at a Times of Israel live-streamed event on December 15 at the IDI in Jerusalem on the topic of judicial reform. Times of Israel editor David Horovitz introduces Cohen and asks some follow-up questions after his remarks. IMAGE: Prof. Amichai Cohen at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Israeli democracy in danger? A proposed High Court override clause has many concerned about a possible tyranny of the majority. Join us as a diverse set of legal experts discuss with ToI editors what’s currently at stake. In this first episode, we speak with Prof. Yaniv Roznai, Vice-Dean at the Harry Radzyner Law School and Co-director at the Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Challenges at Reichman University. His scholarship focuses on comparative constitutional law and constitutional theory. Roznai is among those legal scholars who are leading the charge against the potential game-changing legislation. He explains why in a brief conversation ahead of a live-streamed Times of Israel event on judicial reform that took place in Jerusalem's Israel Democracy Institute on December 15.  Subscribe to 'Israel’s Judiciary: Reform or Ruin?' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your podcasts.  IMAGE: Prof. Yaniv Roznai at a ToI Live event in Jerusalem’s Israel Democracy Institute, December 15, 2022. (Oded Antman/IDI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.