Democracy In Israel

Embassy of Israel Washington, D.C.

Did You Know? Democracy in Israel?

Israel is a parliamentary democracy with three branches of government – the executive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches of government create a separation of powers, in which one branch has the power and ability to check the power of another branch.

The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament

Israel Ministry of Tourism

Inside the Knesset

Israel’s legislative branch is the Knesset, a reference to the Knesset Ha-Gedolah (Great Assembly), the legislative body established by Ezra the Scribe in 70 CE. Like its ancient precursor, the Knesset has 120 members, all of whom are voted into office by the electorate. In order to gain representation in the Knesset, a party must receive at least 2% of the votes cast by the voters. Any Israeli citizen who reaches the age of 18 is entitled to vote. The Knesset operates through many committee meetings and plenary sessions in which all Members of Knesset participate. Bills may be submitted by the government or by individual Knesset

members. A bill becomes a law after it has passed three readings and a vote in the Knesset plenum. The Executive branch of government is headed by the Prime Minister, who serves as the head of the government. He or she serves as the head of the government coalition. It is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to assemble a cabinet of ministers charged with executing the duties of government.

Israel Ministry of Tourism

The Supreme Court

www.israelemb.org

The Judicial branch of the government is composed of three levels of courts: the Supreme Court, district courts and magistrate courts. Additionally, various types of tribunals take place in independent judicial systems, among them, the military, labor and religious courts.

In 1949, Israel enacted a series of Basic Laws that practically serves as a national constitution. Israel’s Basic Laws include chapters on all branches of government as well as on the basic human right to liberty, dignity, and freedom of livelihood.

The Supreme Court is the nation’s highest appellate court. Sitting as the High Court of Justice, the Supreme Court also hears appeals against the government. In addition, the Court maintains the power of judicial review over Knesset legislation, empowering it to ensure the consistency of laws with Israel’s Basic Laws.

Israel’s first President, Chaim Weizman casts his vote in the first general elections

The President is Israel’s head of state and serves as a symbol of Israel. Once every seven years, the Knesset holds a vote to elect the president. After he or she is elected, the president is sworn into office in a special session of Knesset.

The Knesset in session Prime Minister Olmert and his wife Aliza meeting with President Bush For more information, please visit: • The Knesset: www.knesset.gov.il • The Prime Minister’s Office: www.pmo.gov.il • The Judicial Authority www.court.gov.il

The President receives heads of state visiting Israel and ambassadors from foreign states. In addition, the President represents Israel on state visits abroad.

The Declaration of the Establishment .

of the State of Israel

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel was publicly read and signed in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, before the expiration of the British Mandate of Pales-

declared the Jewish people’s right to live in a sovereign state, and opens the doors for Jewish immigration.

tine at midnight. On that day, the Vaad Leumi (Jewish National Council) gathered at the first site of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, today known as Independence Hall, and approved the proclamation.

Moreover, it declares the state will be based on freedom, justice and peace and will ensure equality of social and political rights to all inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.

Following the signing of the Declaration, a 13-member Provisional Government and a Provisional Council of 37 members were established. With the departure of the British Mandatory forces, they became the provisional government and legislature of the state.

Eleven minutes after the Declaration, the United States formally recognized Israel.

The Declaration discusses the Jewish struggle to renew national life in the historic land of Israel, especially after the tragedy of the Holocaust in Europe. The founders

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David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, reads the Declaration in Independence Hall