Judicial Constitution Making in a Divided Society

Amnon Reichman

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139207843.012

9 - Judicial Constitution Making in a Divided Society

The Israeli Case

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2013

Amnon Reichman

Edited by

Diana Kapiszewski ,

Gordon Silverstein and

Robert A. Kagan

Show author details

Diana Kapiszewski: Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
Gordon Silverstein: Affiliation:
Yale Law School
Robert A. Kagan: Affiliation:
University of California, Berkeley

Book contents

Get access

Summary

During the mid-1990's, Israel experienced a legal and political transformation known as “the constitutional revolution” (Gavison 1997: 27; Hirschl 1997: 136; Salzberger & Voigt 2002: 490; Edrey 2005: 78; Sapir 2008: 4). In essence, this “revolution” entailed the empowerment of the judiciary to exercise constitutional judicial review over primary legislation when such legislation does not comply with the requirements set forth in Israel's Basic Laws. This revolution, although on the basis of two Basic Laws enacted by the Knesset in 1992 (and amended in 1994), was nonetheless Court driven in the sense that the Justices of the Supreme Court in the Bank Hamizrachi United v. Migdal Communal Village (1995) significantly expanded the rather modest mandate given in these two Basic Laws (Gavison 1997: 95). The Supreme Court elevated the status of all Basic Laws to the constitutional sphere and denied the power of the Knesset to exempt a statute from judicial review unless it explicitly amends the Basic Laws themselves.

In this chapter, I will provide the historical background in a nutshell and then briefly sketch the legal contours of the revolution (i.e., what happened), analyze the judicial moves that brought this change about (i.e., how it happened), and hypothesize on the forces that brought this change about (i.e., why it happened the way it happened). I will then examine in brief some of the possible ramifications of the revolution for the political and legal landscape in Israel. Throughout the chapter, I will point to some general lessons that may be gleaned from the Israeli story and highlight the importance of a number of specific dynamics including the relationship between the judiciary and the legal academy; the relative prestige bestowed by the media on justices and the Supreme Court compared to the treatment of the legislature and politicians; the fragmentation of the political system; particular aspects of Israel's political economy; and of course, the attitudes and leadership of the political and legal leaders. All of these are variables worthy of examination in any country undergoing a constitutional transformation that is not a consequence of an acute crisis (such as the foundation of a state or the conclusion of a serious civil struggle).

Type: Chapter
Information: Consequential Courts
Judicial Roles in Global Perspective
, pp. 233 - 261

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139207843.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Asherie, Ehud 2005. “When Roni Daniel is Angry,” Haaretz, October 9, viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Avraham, Ruty 2006. “Shneler: H.C.J is Harming the Core of Democracy,” Arutz 7, December 12, viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Barak, Aharon 1992/3. “The Constitutional Revolution: Protected Human Rights,” Mishpat Umimshal 1: 9.Google Scholar

Barak, Aharon 1993. “The Supreme Court and Basic-Law: Human Dignity and Liberty,” Hamishpat 2: 15–21.Google Scholar

Barak, Aharon 1994. Interpretation in Law Volume III Constitutional Interpretation. Jerusalem: Nevo Publishing.Google Scholar

Barak, Aharon 2000a. “Human Dignity as a Constitutional Right,” in Cohn, Haim H. and Zamir, Itzhak (eds.), Aharon Barak Selected Essays, Vol. A. Jerusalem: Nevo Publishing, pp. 417–445.Google Scholar

Barak, Aharon 2000b. “The Constitutional Revolution,” in Cohn, Haim H. and Zamir, Itzhak (eds.), Aharon Barak Selected Essays, Vol. A. Jerusalem: Nevo Publishing, pp. 349–355.Google Scholar

Barak-Erez, Daphne 2007. Outlawed Pigs. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.Google Scholar

Barak-Erez, Daphne 2010. “Symbolic Constitutionalism: On Sacred Cows and Abominable Pigs,” Law, Culture and The Humanities 6: 420–435.CrossRef Google Scholar

Bassok, Or 2003. “A Decade after the Constitutional Revolution – A View on the Constitutional Process in Israel Thru a Comparative Historic Prism,” Mishpat U’Mimshal 6(2): 495–509.Google Scholar

Bechor, Guy 1996. Constitution for Israel. Jerusalem: Keterpress.Google Scholar

Ariel, Bendor 2000. “The Legal Status of the Basic Laws” in Barak, Aharon and Berenson Haim (eds.), Berenson Book, Vol. 2, Jerusalem: Nevo Publishing, pp. 119–181.

HaKnesset, Divrei, Protocols of the 13th Knesset, 17 March 1992, viewed November 10, 2012, retrieved from .

HaKnesset, Divrei, Protocols of the 13th Knesset, 9 March 1994, viewed November 10, 2012, retrieved from .

Edrey, , , Yoseph M. 2005. “The Israeli Constitutional Revolution/Evolution, Models of Constitutions, and a Lesson from Mistakes and Achievements,” The American Journal of Comparative Law 53: 77–123.CrossRef Google Scholar

Epp, Charles 1998. The Rights Revolution: Lawyers, Activists and Supreme Courts in Comparative Perspective. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar

Farber, Dan 2002. “Rights as Signals,” J. Legal Stud. 31: 83–100.CrossRef Google Scholar

Freudenheim, Yeoshua 1973. Government in Israel. Jerusalem: Rubin mas Press.Google Scholar

Gavison, Ruth 1997. “The Constitutional Revolution: A Reality or a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?” Mishpatim 28: 21–147.Google Scholar

Ginsburg, Tom 2003. Judicial Review in New Democracies: Constitutional Courts in Asian Cases. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef Google Scholar

Ginsburg, Tom 2009. “The Judicialization of Administrative Governance,” in Ginsburg, Tom & Chen, Albert H. Y. (eds.), Administrative Law and Governance in Asia, New York: Routledge, pp. 1–20.Google Scholar

Goldberg, Giora 1993. “You don't Need a Constitution to Plant Trees: On State-Building and Constitution Framing,” State, Government and International Relation 38: 29–48.Google Scholar

Hamilton, Walton H. & Braden, George D 1941. “The Special Competence of the Supreme Court,” Yale Law Journal 50: 1319–1375.CrossRef Google Scholar

Hirschl, Ran 1997. “The ‘Constitutional Revolution’ and the Emergence of a New Economic Order in Israel,” Israel Studies 2: 136–155.Google Scholar

Hirschl, Ran 2004. Towards Juristocracy: The Origins and Consequences of the New Constitutionalism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar

Hirschl, Ran 2009. “The Socio-Political Origins of Israel's Juristocracy,” Constellations 16(3): 476–492.CrossRef Google Scholar

Hofnung, Menachem 1996. “The Unintended Consequences of Unplanned Constitutional Reform: Constitutional Politics in Israel,” The American Journal of Comparative Law 44(4): 584–604.CrossRef Google Scholar

Jacobsohn, Gary 2000. “After the Revolution,” Israeli Law Review 34: 139–169.CrossRef Google Scholar

Kagan, Robert A. 2001. Adversarial Legalism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar

Karp, Yehudit 1990. “The Legislative Council: The Beginning of the Legislative Tale,” in Barak, Aharon and Shepnitz, Tena (eds.), Ori Yadin Book, Vol. B. Jerusalem: Bursi Publishing Co., pp. 209–255.Google Scholar

Kedar, Nir Ben-Gurion and the Constitution: on Constitutionalism, Democracy and Law in David Ben-Gurion's Policy (forthcoming, 2012), chapter 5.

Kidder, Nir 2009. Mamlakhtiut David Ben-Gurion Civic Thought. Jerusalem: Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Ben-Gurion University.Google Scholar

Landau, . , Moshe 1980. “The Power of the Court and its Limits,” Mishpatim 10: 196–202.Google Scholar

Lapid, Tommy 2007. “Because of the Standing Requirements,” nrg, July 25, viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Lerner, Hanna 2011. Making Constitutions in Deeply Divided Societies. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef Google Scholar

Mandel, Michael 1999. “Democracy and New Constitutionalism in Israel,”Israel Law Review 33(2): 259.CrossRef Google Scholar

Mautner, Menachem 2008. Law and Culture in Israel at the Threshold of the Twenty First Century. Tel Aviv: Am Oved.Google Scholar

Rackman, Emanuel 1955. Israel's Emerging Constitution 1948–51, New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar

Ramseyer, J. Mark 1994. “The Puzzling (in)Dependence of Courts: A Comparative Approach,” The Journal of Legal Studies 23(2): 721–747.CrossRef Google Scholar

Rubinstein, Amnon and Barak Medina 2005. The Constitutional Law of the State of Israel. Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Nevo.Google Scholar

Salzberger, Eli M. 1996. “The Constitutional Authority in Israel,” Mishpat U’Mimshal 3: 679–696.Google Scholar

Salzberger, Eli M. & Kedar, Alexander 1998. “The Quiet Revolution: More on Judicial Review in Accordance to the New Basic Laws,” Mishpat U’Mimshal 4: 489–520.Google Scholar

Salzberger, Eli M. & Voigt, Stefan 2002. “On Constitutional Processes and the Delegation of Power, with Special Emphasis on Israel and Central and Eastern Europe,” Theoretical Inquiries in Law 3(1): 1–57.CrossRef Google Scholar

Sapir, Gideon 2008. “The Israeli Constitutional Revolution – How did it Happen?” viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Sapir, Gideon 2010. Constitutional Revolution in Israel. Tel Aviv: Miskal & Bar-Ilan University & University of Haifa Press.Google Scholar

Segev, Joshua 2007. “Who Needs a Constitution? In Defense of the Non-decision Constitution-Making Tactic in Israel,” Alb. L. Rev. 70: 409–491.Google Scholar

Shalita, Chen 2007. “Beinish has some ‘soldiers’ in the Battle Against Daniel Friedman – but Most Won't Sacrifice Themselves for Her,” Globes, December 30, viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Stoil, Anna 2007. “Danziger Appointed to High Court of Justice,” The Jerusalem Post, July 30, viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Yannay, Natan 1990. “The Transition to a State of Israel: Politics and Establishment of a Constitution,” in Pilowski, Varda (ed.), Transition from “Yishuv” to State 1947–1949: Continuity and Change, Haifa: University of Haifa Press, pp. 23–37.Google Scholar

H.C. 2605/05, Academic Center of Law and Business v. Minister of Finance, (Nevo) (2009).

H.C. 7052/03, Adallah the Legal Center for the Rights of the Arab Minority v. Minister of Interior, P.D. 51(2) 202 (2006).

H.C. 8276/05, Adallah the Legal Center for the Rights of the Arab Minority v. Minister of Defence, (Nevo) (2006).

H.C. 246/81, Agudat Derech Eretz v. The Broadcasting Authority, P.D. 35(4) 1 (1981).

Cr.A. 8823/07, Anonymous v. The State of Israel, (Nevo) (2010).

H.C. 1/49, Bajerano v. Minister of Police, P.D. 2 80 (1949).

C.A. 6821/93, Bank Hamizrachi united v. Migdal Communal Village, P.D. 49(4) 221 (1995).

H.C. 188/63, Bazul v. Minister of Interior, P.D. 19(1) 337 (1963).

H.C. 98/69, Bergman v. Minister of Finance, P.D. 23(1) 693 (1969).

H.C. 726/94, Clal Insurance Company Ltd. v. Minister of treasury, P.D. 48(5) 441 (1994).

H.C. 366/03, Commitment to Peace and Social Justice v. Minister of Finance, IsrLR 355 (2005).

H.C. 389/80, Dapey Zahav Ltd. v. Broadcasting Authority, P.D 35(1) 421 (1980).

H.C. 8397/06, Eduardo v. Minister of Defense, (Nevo) (2007).

H.C. 466/07, Galon v. Attorney General (Nevo) (2012).

H.C. 10203/03, Hamifkad Haleumi Ltd. v. Attorney General, (Nevo) (2008).

H.C. 5757/04, Hess v. Deputy Chief of Staff, P.D. 59(6) 97 (2005).

H.C. 10662/04, Hassan v. National Insurance Institute (Nevo, decided Feb. 28, 2012).

H.C. 1715/97, Investment Managers’ Committee v. Minister of Treasury, P.D. 51(4) 367 (1997).

H.C. 148/73, Kaniel v. Minister of Justice, P.D. 27(1) 794 (1973).

H.C. 73/53, Kol Ha'am Co. Ltd. v. Minister of Interior, P.D. 7 871 (1953).

H.C. 142/89, Laor Movement v Chair of the Knesset, P.D. 44(3) 529 (1990).

H.C. 5578/02, Manor v. Minister of Finance, P.D. 59(1) 729 (2004).

H.C. 3872/93, Meatrael Ltd. v. The Prime Minster, P.D. 47(5) 485 (1992).

H.C. 6427/02, The Movement for Quality Government in Israel v. The Knesset, (2)Tak-SC 1559 (2006).

Cr.A. 107/73, “Negev” Automobile Services Station Ltd. v. State of Israel, P.D. 28(1) 640 (1983).

H.C. 1030/99, MK Oron v. Chairman of the Knesset, P.D. 56(3) 640 (2002).

H.C. 2994/90, Poraz v. State of Israel, P.D. 44(3) 317 (1990).

H.C. 1661/05, Regional Municipality Hof Aza v. Knesset of Israel, P.D. 59(2) 481 (2005).

H.C. 60/77, Ressler v. Chairman of Elections Committee, P.D. 31(2) 556 (1977).

H.C. 6298/07, Ressler v. The Knesset (Nevo, decided Feb.21, 2012).

H.C. 141/82, Rubinstein v. Chairman of the Knesset, P.D. 37(3) 141 (1982).

H.C. 3267/97, Rubinstein v. Minister of Defense, P.D. 52(5) 481 (1998).

H.C. 1554/95, Shoharey Gila”t Association v. Minister of Education and Culture, P.D. 50(3) 2 (1995).

H.C. 6055/95, Tzemach v. Minister of Defence, P.D. 33(5) 241 (1999).

H.C. 1635/90, ZarZevsky v. Prime Minister of Israel, P.D. 45(1) 749 (1991).

H.C. 10/48, Ziv v. Gubernick, P.D. 1 85 (1948).

The Law of Equal Rights for Women, 1951, S.H. 248.

Basic-Law: The Government, 1992, S.H. 14.

Basic-Law: Haknesset, 1958, S.H. 69.

Draft Bill of Basic Law: The Legislation, 2009. Viewed December 27, 2011, retrieved from .

Law of Rabbinic Courts Judging (Marriage and Divorce), 1953, S.H. 165.

Law of Rabbinic Courts (Enforcement of Rulings of Divorce), 1995, S.H. 139.

The Law of Transition, 1949, S.H. 1.