Written By: Dr. Dana Blander
There have been calls to investigate the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis – but who should do the investigating?
Just as in parliaments around the world - the Israeli Knesset must resume its work.
IDI Statement to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein: Convene the Knesset Plenum without delay; failure to do so blatantly exceeds the bounds of your office and constitutes an unacceptable disregard for basic rules of democracy
Written By: Dr. Chen Friedberg
Since the early 2000s, we have seen an unusual rise in the number of private member bills submitted to the Knesset
Written By: Dr. Assaf Shapira
How can MKs 'cross the floor' and what sanctions might they face? An explainer by Dr. Assaf Shapira
Written By: Prof. Yedidia Z. Stern
In the case of a MK against whom the attorney-general has decided to file an indictment, the members of his party and of his Knesset bloc vote as one.
Written By: Prof. Yuval Shany, Dr. Amir Fuchs
IDI experts explain Israel’s immunity law, what happens when it’s requested and what the implications may be for the political system.
Written By: Dr. Chen Friedberg
Lawmakers sit on too many committees and propose too many laws. The fix starts with government members quitting the Knesset
Written By: Prof. Ofer Kenig
Despite record numbers in the Knesset, few females hold senior government posts — their absence leaves Israel worse off.
Written By: Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, Dr. Rachel Aridor-Hershkovitz
Proposed Facebook bill circumvents standard legal procedure and threatens to transform Israel into a world leader in repression of free speech
IDI scholar recommends adopting a proposed amendment to Basic Law: The Knesset, aimed at penalizing Knesset committee members who are invited to testify or submit information but do not comply.
Israel Democracy Institute Scholars Came Out Against the NGO Bill, which is being discussed today in the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee
Former MKs say bill is unecessary.
Bill is as an attempt to destabilize the balance between Israel's democratic character and its Jewish character.
Written By: Dr. Dana Blander
IDI Researcher Dr. Dana Blander discusses the role of Israel's Central Election Committee and asserts that change is needed in its structure, composition, and working methods.
Written By: Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Admiral (Res.) Amichay (Ami) Ayalon
Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Admiral Ami Ayalon argue that while the heart has difficulty defending MK Hanin Zoabi's freedom of expression, the head demands that we object to the decision to remove her from parliamentary activity for six months.
Written By: Dr. Chen Friedberg
IDI Researcher Dr. Chen Friedberg warns that the government's prolonged inability to appoint a permanent head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee may be causing serious harm to the very foundations of Israeli democracy.
Written By: Dr. Amir Fuchs, Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer
Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Attorney Amir Fuchs explain why they see the "Bar Association Bill" as undermining the rule of law. This bill would change the way that the Bar Association's representatives to the Judicial Appointments Committee are selected, and would apply retroactively.
Written By: Dr. Chen Friedberg
In a democracy, parliaments are supposed to not only pass laws but also engage in oversight; that is, to ensure that legislation is implemented and identify deficiencies in the government’s work.
Written By: Dr. Dana Blander, Dr. Chen Friedberg
There are ways to transform this powerful committee into one that combines politics with professionalism, instead of being one more arena for the settling of political scores.
Written By: Yohanan Plesner
A state that is proud of its identity has nothing to fear from granting all its citizens equality.
Written By: Dr. Chen Friedberg
A set of reforms must be implemented so that Knesset members' supervisory ability over the government will be enhanced.
Written By: Prof. Ofer Kenig
The Knesset is one of the smallest parliaments in the world, in terms of legislators per capita. As a result, the effectiveness of the Israeli parliament is diminished, especially regarding the important task of overseeing the executive.
Researchers surveyed aides in 40 Knesset offices. Of those, 92% of aides says they think MKs do not come prepared for Knesset committee meetings and that the Knesset is not succeeding in properly supervising the government (95%).
Written By: Prof. Ofer Kenig
As the Knesset, Israel’s legislature, marks its birthday, IDI takes the opportunity to consider two aspects about it: its members’ social composition and its relative size.