I talk about the government system of Israel from executive to legislative and how elections work in the country.

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Post author By Charlie March 18, 2021
The Government System of Israel
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-israel/
Israel is a small country located in the
Middle East and Western Asia, it is
bordered with the countries of Lebanon,
Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, it has had
territorial disputes and wars with a
number of these neighboring countries
since Israel was established, one such is
with Syria over the Golan Heights.
Israel itself also has controversial issues
over territories such as the West Bank,
occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip,
boycotted and blockaded by Israel and
still considered by many to be occupied
by Israel, both territories, which are
separated from each other by Israeli
territory, are claimed by the Palestinian
peoples and collectively the territories
are called the Palestinian Territories,
the Gaza Strip has a degree of self-
governance, but there is often violent
confrontations between the two sides,
and Israel has enacted extreme
limitations on the territory. Palestine
also claims part of Jerusalem, which
Israel considers its capital city, and due
to these issues, much of the world has
set up diplomatic missions within the
Israeli city of Tel Aviv instead, although
under Donald Trump the US
controversially moved their embassy to
Jerusalem and recognised the city as
Israel’s capital.
Israel also has a coast along the
Mediterranean Sea and a small coast on
the Gulf of Aqaba, a part of the Red Sea.
Israel is massively influential to the region and has took part in numerous wars even up
until this day where it has conducted operations in Syria and Lebanon against Iranian-
backed militia targets as Israel and Iran consider each other regional rivals. Israel also has
in past years had poor regional relations with numerous other countries in the Middle

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East and Africa, with many even choosing to not officially recognise the existence of
Israel, although under diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration, a number of
countries in the Middle East and Africa officially established political relations with Israel
in 2020.
Another reason Israel is considered controversial is due to its location being significantly
relevant to various religions, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, as the holy land, specifically
Jerusalem.
The land Israel exists on today has evidence of the earliest migration of hominids out of
Africa. Archeological evidence attests that Canaanite tribes existed in the area since at
least the Middle Bronze Age. During the Iron Age the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
emerged, both related Israelite Kingdoms, and they existed together up until the Neo-
Assyrian Empire destroyed the Kingdom of Israel in 720 BCE. Following this the
Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic Empires. A
Jewish rebellion called the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire and Hellenistic
influence successfully established the Hasmoneon Dynasty by 110 BCE. By 63 BCE this
dynasty became a client state of the Roman Republic who later installed the Herodian
Dynasty as a vassal state of the Roman Empire in 37 BCE, then in 6 CE the
Roman province of Judea was established.
Jewish revolts that followed led to widespread destruction and the expulsion of the Jewish
population, and then the province was renamed to Syria Palaestina by Roman Emperor
Hadrian, despite the expulsion a degree of Jewish presence remained in the region over
the centuries. In the 7 Century CE, the Levant, which includes modern day Israel as well
as Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and southeast Anatolia was conquered by an Arab
Muslim conquest and remained under Muslim control until the First Crusade in 1099, but
was later taken by the Sunni Muslim Ayyubid Dynasty in 1187. In the 13 Century the
Levant was then taken by the Mamluk Sultanate, which spanned across Egypt and held
the area until they were defeated by the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
It would not be until the 19 Century that there would be a Jewish reawakening which led
to the creation of the Zionist movement, seeking to reestablish a Jewish state and support
for it in the Holy Land and many Jews begun immigration to the Palestine region. After
the 1 World War the Ottoman Empire ceded the land to the British Empire who
controlled it from 1920. During the Second World War the area was bombed heavily and
Jews living in the area sided with the Allies, with agreement of the British providing arms
and forming a Jewish Brigade in 1944.
Following the 2 World War there were growing tensions between the Arab and Jewish
sides in the Palestine region, the British wished to appease both sides and pushed for the
United Nations to adopt a partition plan for Palestine, recommending creation of
independent Arab and Jewish States and for Jerusalem to be internationalised due to its
shared religious importance, although this part did not come to fruition due to
disagreement on both sides, but the Jewish Agency accepted the Palestine Partition,
although it was largely rejected by Arab leaders, nonetheless the Jewish Agency declared
independence of the State of Israel in 1948, leading to the Arab-Israeli War.
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The War led to Israel’s establishment over the formerly British-held areas of what was
called Mandatory Palestine, although the West Bank and Gaza were held by Arab states.
Several more wars followed between Israel and neighboring Arab countries and since the
Six-Day War in 1967 Israel occupied the territories of the West Bank, Golan Heights, and
Gaza Strip. In 2005 Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip which included dismantling
Israeli settlements, evacuating its citizens, and removing troops from the area, although
many still consider the Gaza Strip to effectively be occupied by Israel, due to severe
restrictions instituted on the area. Further legislative acts have resulted in full application
of Israeli law in the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, and partial application in the West
Bank in controversially setup Israeli settlements in the area.
There have been numerous efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict including a two-
state solution, but there has been as of yet no final peace agreement, and violent and
deadly fighting and confrontations between the Palestinians and Israel is common. Israel
has though since signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, the Golan Heights that
Israel occupied continues to be disputed by Syria and is internationally recognised as
Syrian territory.
Israel’s official language is Hebrew but the country also recognises Arabic. The largest
ethnic group is Jewish, followed by a significant group of Arabs. Judaism is the largest
religion, followed by Islam. The country’s currency is the Israeli new shekel, which is also
used as legal tender in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The country’s population is over
8,751,580.
Government Type

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Emblem of Israel.
Israel is a democratic parliamentary representative republic where there is a President
who is Head of State and a Prime Minister who is Head of Government. There is a
unicameral legislature called the Knesset which makes up the legislative Government.
Multiple parties are allowed.
It is of note that Israel does not currently have a proper written constitution but instead a
Basic Law that group together organization and rights of the Jewish State of Israel which
enjoys semi-constitutional status and has safeguards in place, such as requiring super
majorities to change certain parts of the Basic Laws.
The Executive Government

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Beit Aghion, official residence of the Prime Minister. Photo by Haimohana from he.wikipedia.
CC BY 2.5. Source.
The President is the country’s Head of State. In Israel the President is mostly a ceremonial
figure, with the Prime Minister holding most of the executive power through the executive
Government.
The President must have permission from the Government to leave the country.
Presidential Absence and Vacancy
The Office of the President may become temporarily vacant for various reasons that
include leaving the territory; if the President notifies the House Committee that he/she is
temporarily unable to carry out duties/functions, which will then be approved by the
Committee in a majority vote.
The House Committee can also resolve by a two-thirds majority that the President
is unable to carry out functions for a set period of time due to health reasons.
Presidential absence set by the House Committee cannot extend beyond three months but
can be extended for an additional three months by another resolution of that Committee,
but any further extension after that point will also require approval of the Knesset.
While the Presidency is temporarily absent the Chairman of the Knesset will take over as
Acting President until the President’s return. If the office of the President has become
vacant due to death, resignation, removal or any other reason, then the Chairman of the
Knesset will be interim President until a new President is elected.
The Acting/Interim President has all powers of the President under the Basic Law and
other legislation.

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Presidential Duties
The President has a number of powers and duties. The President signs legislation into
law, except for legislation that relates to the powers of the Office of the President. The
President receives reports detailing the meetings of Government.
The President also accredits diplomatic representatives of the State, and receives the
credentials of foreign diplomatic representatives sent to Israel. Also empowers consular
representatives of the State and confirms appointments of consular representatives sent
to Israel by foreign States.
The President signs Conventions with foreign States that have been ratified by the
Knesset.
The President appoints and removes Judges and other office-holders of the States subject
to the law. Judges are appointed upon election by a Judges’ Election Committee.
This Committee is made up of nine members, the President of the Supreme Court; two
other judges of the Supreme Court elected by the body of judges; the Minister of Justice
and another Minister designated by the Government; two members of the Knesset elected
by the Knesset; and two representatives of the Chamber of Advocates elected by the
National Council of the Chamber. The Minister of Justice is the Chairman of this
Committee. The Committee may act as long as present members are not less than seven.
The President also has the power to pardon offenders and lighten penalties by reduction
or commutation.
The President may also have other powers assigned by the law to be carried out as
stipulated.
Most of the President’s powers require counter-signature of the Prime Minister or
relevant Minister to have effect, powers connected with formation of Government and
dissolution of the Knesset do not require counter-signature.
Presidential Removal
The process of removing the President from Office can be started by resolution of the
Knesset if they find the President unworthy of their office owning to conduct unbecoming
of their status as President.
Such a resolution must be brought before the House Committee by at least twenty
members and then must be passed by that Committee by at least a three-quarters
majority. This resolution will then arrive in the Knesset where it requires support of at
least a three-quarters majority after conclusion of proceedings, if passed by the majority
then the President is removed from Office.
The House Committee cannot propose removal of the President before he/she has been
given the opportunity to refute the complaint in accordance with prescribed procedure by
the Committee which has been approved by the Knesset. As such the Knesset cannot

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resolve to remove the President until the President has had opportunity to be heard again
in accordance with procedure prescribed by the Committee and approved by the Knesset.
The President can also be removed from office for health reasons. Such a resolution will
be a proposal from the House Committee passed by at least a two-thirds majority on the
strength of a medical opinion in accordance with rules prescribed by the Committee. If
passed the resolution goes to the Knesset which will decide by majority whether to remove
the President from Office on health grounds.
Prime Minister and Government
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government and holds the executive powers and
implements legislation passed by the Knesset and signed, the Prime Minister is appointed
by the President after and based on the outcome of Knesset elections. The Government
makes decisions collectively through the Cabinet of Ministers or Council of Ministers, the
highest executive decision-making body, they including the Prime Minister are
collectively responsible for their decisions. Ministers in their respective duties and actions
are responsible to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is the person who successfully formed a Government as charged by
the President, to form a Government said Government-in-waiting requires a confidence
vote from the Knesset to officially become the Government. Failures to form Government
or gain confidence will have others who are willing be chosen or put forth to be chosen to
attempt to form a Government and gain confidence. If all still fails fresh elections are the
result.
The Prime Minister and his/her Government must keep the confidence of the Knesset to
remain in power.
Ministers chosen do not need to be members of the Knesset. Ministers are put in charge of
heading Ministries, including usage of regulatory powers and responsibilities of staff and
actions within. There may also be Ministers without a Portfolio.
Ministers, who are also members of the Knesset, may be appointed Acting Prime Minister
if the office of Prime Minister become temporarily absent or becomes vacant for whatever
reason, this lasts until the Prime Minister returns or in case of permanent vacancy a new
Government is formed. Ministers can also be appointed as Deputy Prime Ministers.
Acting Ministers can also be appointed by the Government if other Ministers are
temporarily absent for whatever reason or if the said position has become vacant for
whatever reason, Acting Ministers will perform the role fully or in part determined by the
Government and for no longer than three months.
Ministers can appoint Deputy Ministers with consent of Prime Minister and approval of
the Government, and such a role is assumed after the Government has notified the
Knesset of it. Deputy Ministers must be chosen from among members of the Knesset.
Deputy Ministers act in their respective ministry and Knesset, on behalf of the Minister
who appointed them, and within the allocated parameters.

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The Prime Minister, Government, or appointing Minister can remove the Deputy Minister
from their position. The Prime Minister intending to remove a Deputy Minister must first
inform the Government and relevant Minister first.
After formation of Government further Ministers can be coopted upon the proposal of the
Prime Minister. The Government must notify such fact and function of this additional
Minister to the Knesset who will decide to approve them.
The Prime Minister can also remove Ministers after having first notified the Knesset. If
Ministers or Deputy Ministers are convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude then
they will cease holding office as Minister or Deputy Minister.
The Prime Minister can be removed from office if convicted of an offense which the said
court states involves moral turpitude. Before removal the Prime Minister must first be
given opportunity to respond. If removed from office then the entire Government will be
deemed to have resigned. If not removed from office, and the final judgement of the court
is that the offense did involve moral turpitude, then the Prime Minister must resign
regardless of whether the Knesset voted to remove them or not, again the entire
Government will deemed to have also resigned.
If the Prime Minister decides to resign of their own accord, then again it will still be
deemed that the entire Government has also resigned. It is also the same if the Prime
Minister dies or if the Prime Minister has become permanently incapacitated, or if the
Prime Minister ceases to be a member of the Knesset.
The country’s armed forces are subject to the authority of the Government. The Minister
in charge of the armed forces on behalf of the Government is the Minister of Defence. The
Chief of the General Staff is the supreme command level of the army, they are subject to
the authority of the Government and subordinate to the Minister of Defence, they are
appointed by the Government on recommendation of the Minister of Defence.
With approval of the Knesset the Government may change the division of roles among
Ministers, except for the Prime Minister. With approval of Knesset the Government may
transfer authorities and duties legally belonging to one Minister, in all or part, to another
Minister. With approval of the Knesset the Government can unite or divide Government
ministries or abolish and/or establish new ministries.
No-Confidence in Government and Dispersion of Knesset
The Knesset can adopt an expression of no-confidence in the Prime Minister and
Government. Such a resolution must be adopted by a majority of members and that
requests the President assigns task of forming Government to a certain willing Knesset
member.
Upon a resolution of no-confidence being passed the Government and Prime Minister will
deemed to have resigned on that day.

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If the person chosen to form a new Government fails to do so or fails to obtain the
required confidence from the Knesset upon forming a Government and outlining general
policies then there will be fresh Knesset elections.
If the Prime Minister ascertains a majority of the Knesset opposes the Government, and
that effective Government is opposed as a result, he may with approval of the President,
disperse the Knesset. The Government and Prime Minister will be deemed to have
resigned. The process of forming a new Government will take place following the usual
procedure (as if an election had concluded). If failure to form Government is the result
with no breakthrough, then fresh elections are held.
The above cannot be done by a caretaker Prime Minister, after vote of no-confidence has
been expressed, or on resignation or removal of the Prime Minister. Acting Prime
Ministers can also not disperse the Knesset.
Emergency Provisions
If the Knesset ascertains that the State is in a State of Emergency, it may, of its own
initiative or on Government proposal, declare a State of Emergency exists. State of
Emergency cannot exceed one year but can be renewed by the Knesset.
The Government can declare a State of Emergency without approval if the Knesset is
unable to convene, it will last for 7-days and will end if the Knesset has not revoked or
approved it. The Government can extend the State of Emergency until the Knesset can
convene.
The Knesset can revoke a State of Emergency at any time.
A State of Emergency allows the Prime Minister and Government extraordinary powers
for the time it exists. This includes power of Government to decree emergency regulations
for defence of the State, public security and maintenance of essential services and
supplies.
If the Prime Minister deems it impossible to convene the Government, then they can
personally decree or empower a Minister to decree emergency regulations if there is an
immediate and critical need to do so.
Such emergency regulations may alter any law, temporarily suspend its effect or introduce
conditions, and may impose or increase taxes or other compulsory payments, unless there
is other provision by law. Emergency regulation expire after three months (or within 60-
days after the end of a State of Emergency) unless their force is extended by law.
Emergency regulations can be revoked by the Knesset at any time. No emergency
regulations can change the Basic Law, temporarily suspend it, or subject it to conditions.
The State has the power to declare or begin a war or adopt military actions for defense of
the State via Government decision. Such a decision (of declaring or starting war) must be
submitted by the Government to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee as

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soon as possible. The Prime Minister must also notify the Knesset plenum as soon as
possible. Military actions for defense of State must also notify Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Security Committee as soon as possible.
The Legislative Government
Knesset meeting place. Photo by Beny Shlevich from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Source.
Israel’s legislature is a unicameral one and is known as the Knesset, Basic Law currently
fixes its members at 120. The main job of the Knesset is to have legislation introduced,
debate such legislation and motions, possibly introduced amendments, and either pass or
reject such legislation and motions. The Knesset also provides oversight of the executive
Government’s actions. It is also the job of the Knesset to review the annual Budget
provided by the Government and to adopt it.
Failure to adopt the Budget within three months subsequent to the beginning of the fiscal
year will result in dismissal of the legislature and early elections.
There is a Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Knesset. The job of the Chairman is to
maintain orderly debate and following of internal rules and procedure, and also to
represent the Knesset as an impartial figure. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are
elected by the members of the Knesset following parliamentary elections. A resolution
passed by a majority of members can suspend the Chairman or Vice-Chairman or set
restrictions on them, a majority resolution, or a special majority if provided for by the
rules/law, can also remove the Chairman or Vice-Chairman from their post.
The members of the Knesset elect from among themselves to set up Permanent
Committees, and also setup Committees for specific matters. Functions, powers,
procedure of Committees are determined by either Law or Rules. Rules may allow
Committees to obligatorily summon office holders and compel them to provide relevant
important information on a matter at hand or under investigation/inquiry.
The Knesset can also set up specific Commissions of Inquiry either by empowering a
Permanent Committee to do so or by setting one up from scratch. They are setup to
investigate matters designated by the Knesset, powers and functions prescribed by the

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Knesset.
Members of Government who are not members of the Knesset has the same status as a
member of Government who is a member of the Knesset, although they cannot vote
within the Knesset.
The Knesset can adopt a Law by a majority to dissolve itself for early elections.
It is possible to extend the term of the Knesset under extraordinary circumstances that
prevent the holding of the next scheduled elections. Such extension can only be done by a
law passed by at least 80-members of the Knesset and only under such special
circumstances.
The State Comptroller is elected by the Knesset for a term of seven years. In basic this
position audits economy, property, finances, and various Government bodies and
institutions. They inspect legality, integrity, management norms etc. The Knesset has the
power to remove the State Comptroller by resolution due to conduct unbecoming
of status or due to health reasons.
The Electoral System

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Image by Sting and NordNordWest from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA
3.0. Source.

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Presidential elections happen every 7-years and is elected by the members of the Knesset
(country’s legislature). The person elected may serve only a single 7-year term and cannot
be elected again. Candidates are nominated by members of the Knesset, a candidate
requires the support of at least 10-members to stand in the election, members cannot
nominate or support more than one candidate.
If there are more than two candidates the election is by absolute majority, if no candidate
reaches absolute majority in first round, then the two candidates with the highest vote
counts remain, the winner is then determined by simple majority in a 2 round. If there
is only a single candidate then members will vote either for or against this single
candidate, if they receive more unfavourable votes than favourable then they will not be
elected and another round will be held open to new candidates being nominated – this is
unique as under most systems if there is a single candidate, they will automatically
become President without further vote.
Parliamentary elections to the Knesset take place every 4-years with absence of early
elections being called. Its members are elected from multi-seat constituencies using a
proportional representation method, the type being the D’Hondt Method, this means
parties meeting certain quotas will be guaranteed seats and means coalitions are often
required to form a working majority.
Only parties can present lists of candidates, meaning independent candidates cannot
run.
Candidates for the Knesset must be an Israeli national who is at least 21-years-old.
Although people can be disqualified from running if a court deprives them of that right by
virtue of the Law or has been sentenced to imprisonment for over three months, and they
cannot run until 7-years have passed after imprisonment, unless Central Elections
Committee Chairman offence convicted does not bear moral turpitude (if a court has
already not stated otherwise).
A person also cannot run if they reject the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and
Democratic State; incitement of racism; and support of armed struggle, by hostile state or
terrorist organisation, against State of Israel. These decisions made by the Central
Elections Committee must be affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Numerous others also cannot stand including the serving President, the two Chief Rabbis,
judges, State Comptroller, Chief of General Staff of the Defense Army of Israel, rabbis and
ministers of other religions while holding paid office, senior State employees and Army
officers determined by law, policeman and prison wardens determined by law, and
employees of corporations established by law.
After Knesset elections the Prime Minister is determined by figure within largest grouping
who has relevant confidence within the Knesset, and is then appointed by the President to
form a Government, if successful they will become Prime Minister. If not, due to failing to
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meet deadline or not getting confidence required then a new person will be chosen by the
President, but the President may also deem it impossible to form a Government, which
may lead to fresh Knesset elections.
Even when the President believes that forming a Government is impossible the groupings
in the Knesset can put forth members to be charged with forming a Government.
To vote in elections one must be a citizen of Israel and be at least 18-years-old. Voting is
not mandatory.
Sources
This post uses the latest available pdf from constitueproject.org of Israel’s Basic Law 1958
with amendments through to 2013, most changes made are not significant and will likely
have little effect on this post, but it needs to be understood that often and ease of change
of the Basic Law means there may be certain areas incorrect or out of date and should be
extensively cross researched. Although most areas covered within this post are probably
not subject to change very often, checking is still important. There is also the possibility I
may have misinterpreted parts or missed other things, so again cross-research is
recommended for those using this in serious capacity.
The Basic Law can be amended by a majority of the Knesset members by plenum of
members under the first, second, and third readings, super-majorities may be required
where stated. This does not apply to section 45 and 46. Some areas of the Basic Law it is
stated cannot be changed. Note that the Basic Law is often changed, it was last changed
on 1 January 2018.
Next up will be the government system of Italy!
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