Knesset committees

As the Likud party seeks to replace MK Yuli Edelstein as Chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, this Q&A lays out everything you need to know about the role of a Committee Chair, and the the replacement process and history relevant to the current situation.

There have been calls to investigate the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis – but who should do the investigating?

Just as in parliaments around the world - the Israeli Knesset must resume its work.

IDI Statement to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein: Convene the Knesset Plenum without delay; failure to do so blatantly exceeds the bounds of your office and constitutes an unacceptable disregard for basic rules of democracy

Since the early 2000s, we have seen an unusual rise in the number of private member bills submitted to the Knesset

How can MKs 'cross the floor' and what sanctions might they face? An explainer by Dr. Assaf Shapira

In the case of a MK against whom the attorney-general has decided to file an indictment, the members of his party and of his Knesset bloc vote as one.

IDI experts explain Israel’s immunity law, what happens when it’s requested and what the implications may be for the political system.

Lawmakers sit on too many committees and propose too many laws. The fix starts with government members quitting the Knesset

Despite record numbers in the Knesset, few females hold senior government posts — their absence leaves Israel worse off.

Proposed Facebook bill circumvents standard legal procedure and threatens to transform Israel into a world leader in repression of free speech

IDI scholar recommends adopting a proposed amendment to Basic Law: The Knesset, aimed at penalizing Knesset committee members who are invited to testify or submit information but do not comply.

Israel Democracy Institute Scholars Came Out Against the NGO Bill, which is being discussed today in the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee

Former MKs say bill is unecessary.

Bill is as an attempt to destabilize the balance between Israel's democratic character and its Jewish character.

IDI Researcher Dr. Dana Blander discusses the role of Israel's Central Election Committee and asserts that change is needed in its structure, composition, and working methods.

Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Admiral Ami Ayalon argue that while the heart has difficulty defending MK Hanin Zoabi's freedom of expression, the head demands that we object to the decision to remove her from parliamentary activity for six months.

IDI Researcher Dr. Chen Friedberg warns that the government's prolonged inability to appoint a permanent head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee may be causing serious harm to the very foundations of Israeli democracy.

Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Attorney Amir Fuchs explain why they see the "Bar Association Bill" as undermining the rule of law. This bill would change the way that the Bar Association's representatives to the Judicial Appointments Committee are selected, and would apply retroactively.

In a democracy, parliaments are supposed to not only pass laws but also engage in oversight; that is, to ensure that legislation is implemented and identify deficiencies in the government’s work.

There are ways to transform this powerful committee into one that combines politics with professionalism, instead of being one more arena for the settling of political scores.

A state that is proud of its identity has nothing to fear from granting all its citizens equality.

A set of reforms must be implemented so that Knesset members' supervisory ability over the government will be enhanced.

The Knesset is one of the smallest parliaments in the world, in terms of legislators per capita. As a result, the effectiveness of the Israeli parliament is diminished, especially regarding the important task of overseeing the executive.

Researchers surveyed aides in 40 Knesset offices. Of those, 92% of aides says they think MKs do not come prepared for Knesset committee meetings and that the Knesset is not succeeding in properly supervising the government (95%).

As the Knesset, Israel’s legislature, marks its birthday, IDI takes the opportunity to consider two aspects about it: its members’ social composition and its relative size.