The Constitution of Israel: A Contextual Analysis (Constitutional Systems of the World)

This book presents the main features of the Israeli constitutional system and offers a topical discussion of Israel's basic laws. It focuses on constitutional history and the peculiar decision to frame a constitution 'by stages.' Following its British heritage and the lack of a formal Constitution, Israel's democracy grew for more than four decades on the principle of parliamentary supremacy. Introducing a constitutional model and the concept of judicial review of laws, the 'constitutional revolution' of the 1990s started a new era in Israel's constitutional history. The book's main themes include: constitutional principles * the legislature and the electoral system * the executive * the protection of fundamental rights * the crucial role of the Supreme Court in Israel's constitutional discourse. It further presents Israel's unique aspects as a Jewish and democratic state and its ongoing search for the right balance between human rights and national security. Finally, the book offers a critical discussion of the development of Israel's Constitution and local projects aimed at enacting a single and comprehensive text. It is a unique and fascinating analysis which will be of interest to scholars and students of comparative constitutional law. (Series: Constitutional Systems of the World)