Israel is located in the Middle East, bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. It also borders the so-called State of Palestine. The population of this country is approx 97,36,000 with approx 21,000 square kilometers area. Hebrew is the official language, along with Arabic. 73% are Jewish, 18% are Muslim, 2% are Christian, 1.6% are Druze.
According to the Israeli constitution, no religious figure is able to participate in the elections of the Israeli Parliament. Election Day has been declared a holiday. There is a constitutional obligation to present a multi-year plan after the presentation of the annual budget in Parliament.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
No one who rejects the Jewish state of Israel can be a Member of Parliament. Israel's constitution is influenced by religion. Even religious courts have constitutional recognition.
Admirable Articles of Israel's Constitution
Basic Law. The Knesset (1958)
7. Who shall not be a candidate (Amendments 2, 21, and 33)
The following shall not be candidates for the Knesset:
1. the President of the State;
2. the two Chief Rabbis;
3. a judge (shofet);
4. a judge (dayan) of a religious court;
5. the State Comptroller;
6. the Chief of the General Staff of the Defense Army of Israel;
7. rabbis and ministers of other religions, while holding paid office;
8. senior State employees and Army officers of such grades or ranks and in such functions as shall be determined by Law.
9. policemen and prison warders of such ranks and positions as shall be determined by law;
10. employees of corporations established by law of such ranks and positions as shall be determined by law.
Unless they have ceased to serve in the aforementioned position or office, prior to the date for submitting the lists of candidates for the Knesset, and if an earlier date has been set by law prior to the set date.
10. Election day to be a day of rest
Election Day shall be a day of rest, but transport services and other public services shall function normally.
Basic Law. The State Economy (1975)
3. The State Budget (Amendments 1, 2, and 7) (Part of it)
a.
1. The State Budget shall be prescribed by Law.
2. The Budget shall be for one year and shall set out the expected and planned expenditure of the Government.
3A. Multi-annual budget (Amendment 4)
a. Towards every fiscal year, the Government shall prepare a multi-annual budget plan that will include the Budget Bill for the coming year, as well as a budget plan for the two following consecutive years.
b. The Government shall submit to the Knesset the multi-annual budget plan together with the Budget Bill.
c. Every budget bill submitted by the Government to the Knesset shall be based on the multi-annual budget plan prepared and submitted under with this Section in the previous year.
Basic Law. Human Dignity and Liberty (1992)
4. Protection of life, body and dignity
All persons are entitled to protection of their life, body and dignity.
Facts of Israel's Constitution
Basic Law. The Knesset (1958)
7A. Prevention of participation of candidates' list (Amendments 9, 35, and 39) (Part of it)
a. A candidates' list shall not participate in elections to the Knesset, and a person shall not be a candidate for election to the Knesset, if the objects or actions of the list or the actions of the person, expressly or by implication, include one of the following:
1. negation of the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state;
2. incitement to racism;
3. support of armed struggle, by a hostile state or a terrorist organization, against the State of Israel.
12. Convening of the Knesset (Amendment 37)
The Knesset shall convene for its first meeting, after the election results are published, within fourteen days of Election Day on the date fixed by law, unless an earlier date is prescribed by law due to a rest day, holiday, festival day, memorial day, or due to proximity to one of them, or due to the intermediate days of certain Jewish festivals.
21A. Knesset supervision of secondary legislation (Amendment 30)
a. Regulations enacted by a Minister whose violation entails criminal punishment shall not enter into force, unless they have been approved prior to publication by a committees of the Knesset committees responsible for that matter; should the committee fail to approve or reject the regulations within 45 days of receiving the regulations, the regulations will be deemed approved.
b. The provisions of this subsection do not prejudice the provisions of any Basic Law or other law regarding regulations.
Basic Law. The Judiciary (1984)
Chapter One. Basic Provisions
1. Judicial power
a. Judicial power is vested in the following courts:
1. the Supreme Court;
2. a District Court;
3. a Magistrate's Court;
4. another court designated by Law as a court.
In this Law, "judge" means a judge of a court as aforesaid.
b. Judicial power is vested also in the following:
1. a religious court (beit din);
2. any other court (beit din):
3. another authority all as prescribed by Law.
c. No court or court (beit din) shall be established for a particular case.
