On Tuesday March 17th elections for the 20th Knesset took place, and the results point towards a significant victory for the national Zionist block. The new Knesset and the 34th government that will be formed will pose an important test for the future of national Zionism in the State of Israel, particularly in light of the unification of the Arab parties and their major achievement - 14 mandates.
The Legal Forum for Israel is continuously acting to advance and enhance the Zionist and national values in the State of Israel. In anticipation of the formation of a new government the Legal Forum is working to influence the new government and Knesset's agenda. To that end the Legal Forum has prepared a position paper which includes a range of issues which according to the experience of members of the Forum must be addressed during the next term.
Some of the issues include topics which the Forum has previously addressed and is continuing to do so with regard to the Attorney General, the Judicial Appointment Committee, the authority of the Supreme Court, and necessary changes in the Civil Administration.
Below is a list of some of the issues:
The Attorney General:
1. Creating a separation between the position of Attorney General and that of Head of the Prosecution - between enforcement and prosecution.
2. The role of legal advisor to a government office, including the Attorney General and legal advisor to the Knesset must be defined as a position of trust.
3. Changing the make-up of the search committee for the role of Attorney General.
The Judicial Appointment Committee:
1. Changing the make-up of the Judicial Appointment Committee to include one retired Supreme Court Judge, two members of the academia - one selected by the coalition and one by the opposition (instead of three Supreme Court Judges).
2. Holding a secret ballot in the Committee.
3. Ensuring that protocols are recorded and published within 45 days in the Judicial Appointment Committee and in the Committee for the Appointment of Dayanim.
4. Appointment of the Supreme Court President by the Knesset.
5. Holding a hearing for Supreme Court Judges prior to their appointment.
Authority of the Supreme Court:
1. Enforcing a bill submitted by MK Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) that would enable the Knesset to override a Supreme Court decision to strike down a law it had previously legislated with a majority of 61 MKs, and for a period of four years.
2. Establishing an intermediate court between the District and Supreme Courts in cases that require witness examination, or alternatively amend the law so that the Supreme Court Act so that it will be possible to also examine witnesses.
3. Supreme Court intervention only in extreme cases.
In order to bring about the necessary changes that will strengthen the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State it is vital to address the legal system and its unbalanced influence on the other governing authorities.
The Legal Forum for Israel will continue to act with all the tools at its disposal to bring about the changes, in cooperation with MK's and Ministers of the new government.
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