Israeli Court Reform: Not Originalist

Israelis went to the polls today for the fifth time in four years. They faced a stark choice. On one side, the change coalition, led by incumbent prime minister Yair Lapid, represented a more liberal, secular conception of Zionism and promises to end Benjamin Netanyahu–era divisiveness once and for all. On the other, the nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, with Likud and former prime minister Netanyahu at their helm, aimed to ground state policy in halakha, Jewish law, and a non-conciliatory approach to matters of national security. As of this writing, polls just closed; early (albeit unreliable) exit polling gives the edge to Netanyahu’s coalition.

One of the issues that got a lot of attention in this race, especially in the foreign press, was the mainstreaming of far-right Kahanist leader Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir, whose Kach Party has been banned in Israel and designated a terrorist organization by both Israel and (until recently) the U.S., considers himself a disciple of Meir Kahane, the ultranationalist rabbi who was influenced by Stokely Carmichael, founder of the Black Panthers. Much like Kahane (who was assassinated in New York in 1990), Ben-Gvir has been found guilty of several terrorism-related offenses.

About the Author

Bobby Miller

Bobby Miller is an ISI Fellow at National Review and a graduate student at Georgetown University.

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Israelis went to the polls today for the fifth time in four years. They faced a stark choice. On one side, the change coalition, led by incumbent prime minister Yair Lapid, represented a more liberal, secular conception of Zionism and promises to end Benjamin Netanyahu–era divisiveness once and for all. On the other, the nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, with Likud and former prime minister Netanyahu at their helm, aimed to ground state policy in halakha, Jewish law, and a non-conciliatory approach to matters of national security. As of this writing, polls just closed; early (albeit unreliable) exit polling gives the edge to Netanyahu’s coalition.

One of the issues that got a lot of attention in this race, especially in the foreign press, was the mainstreaming of far-right Kahanist leader Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir, whose Kach Party has been banned in Israel and designated a terrorist organization by both Israel and (until recently) the U.S., considers himself a disciple of Meir Kahane, the ultranationalist rabbi who was influenced by Stokely Carmichael, founder of the Black Panthers. Much like Kahane (who was assassinated in New York in 1990), Ben-Gvir has been found guilty of several terrorism-related offenses.