On Sunday July 26 we commemorate a day with national and traumatic significance: the 9th of Av, a day which signifies the destruction of the land of Israel. Ten years ago 8,000 Jews were expelled from their homes and a flourishing region was destroyed and turned into a terrorist base, in a haphazard and senseless move which was one of the grimmest events to take place in the State of Israel. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon assured the Israeli public that “the purpose of this plan is to lead to a better political, economic, demographic and security reality”.

Sharon chose a day that signifies the destruction of the Temple and a day of calamity and disaster in the history of the Jewish people as the day to carry out this plan. In the years immediately after the expulsion from Gush Katif and Northern Samaria, we witnessed the disastrous ramifications of these events. On a personal level families were destroyed, productive individuals became unwillingly unemployed, and home owners became homeless. On a national level the results were catastrophic: Israel’s power of deterrence was significantly diminished, which led to a serious escalation in Israel’s security and the beginning of the Second Lebanon War, as well as the Protective Edge and Cast Lead military operations in Gaza. The Legal Forum for Israel was established in order to protect the rights of the residents of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria and to minimize the damage caused by this move. The Forum forewarned the Members of Knesset, the government and the Supreme Court of the dangers the new reality would bring about. The Forum perceived that the legal system failed in its role and ignored evidence and predictions presented, which later turned out to be accurate. For the last ten years the Legal Forum has consistently acted to better the legal system by embedding Zionist values and increasing transparency. Following the precedent of parliamentary and legal activities of the Legal Forum, other Zionist organizations were established, all acting to strengthen the Zionist identity of Israel.

On the Shabbat prior to the 9th of Av we read the opening chapter of the Book of Isaiah. This chapter is very harsh, and implies Israel’s central sin which caused the Jewish people to go into exile, and the amendment needed in order for the people of Israel to live in the land: “Zion shall be redeemed with justice and they that return of her with righteousness”. Am Israel deserves to dwell in its land only when its legal system is just.

On Wednesday July 22 the Knesset appointed its representatives to the Judicial Appointment Committee and the Committee for the Appointment of Dayanim. We are pleased that the representatives from both the coalition and the opposition are individuals with strong Zionist values, and we believe we will be able to assist them in selecting the worthiest judges which will benefit the State of Israel. As we approach the 9th of Av the Legal Forum for Israel wishes all our friends and supporters that together we will continue the strengthen the State of Israel as a Zionist state with a legal system that will be “a light onto the nations”.