Should the Supreme Court's power to strike down laws and government decisions be curtailed?
Curtail the High Court's powers
Decisions of principle belong to elected officials, not to a court that is not elected and does not answer to the voters
Keep judicial review
Judicial review is a central protection of individual rights and of the rules of the game against a passing political majority
The final vote abolishing the reasonableness standard (July 2023) took place without the opposition, which walked out of the plenum, so it shows only the coalition parties' positions. Both blocs voted in the first readings of the amendments to Basic Law: The Judiciary.
"Said" is the platform, and statements and posts by the list's candidates. "Did" is plenum votes, bills and recorded acts in the 25th Knesset. The placement rests on all the evidence together. The votes are the outgoing Knesset's, not the 26th's.
The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (6)▾
רק
BeYachad
Firm position: Keep judicial review
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
24 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 24 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
23 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 23 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
23 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 23 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
נעגן את זכויות היסוד: שוויון, חופש ביטוי וחופש דת, ונחוקק את חוק יסוד: החקיקה שיסדיר את היחסים בין הרשויות, יגן על עצמאות מערכת המשפט ושומרי הסף ויקבע ששינוי כללי המשחק הדמוקרטיים דורש רוב מיוחד
Translation: “We will enshrine the basic rights: equality, freedom of expression and freedom of religion, and we will legislate Basic Law: Legislation, which will regulate the relations between the branches, protect the independence of the justice system and the gatekeepers, and establish that changing the democratic rules of the game requires a special majority”
The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (8)▾
אמת
The Democrats
Firm position: Keep judicial review
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
2 statements in the media · 2 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
6 tweets · 6 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
למשל איזון יכולת בית המשפט להיות פוסק עליון. אני חושב שהמילה האחרונה צריכה להיות דווקא בכנסת ולא בבית משפט
Translation: “For example, balancing the court's ability to be the supreme arbiter. I think the last word should actually be with the Knesset and not with a court”
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersMarch 13, 2023
29 of the list's MKs voted: 29 for, 0 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersFebruary 22, 2023
31 of the list's MKs voted: 31 for, 0 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Leaning toward Curtail the High Court's powers· Weak evidence
Said
1 platform section · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
כדי שהכנסת תוכל לגבור על פסילת בג"ץ, צריך רוב מיוחס של יותר מ-72 חברי כנסת. בנוגע לעילת הסבירות - צריך לצמצם אבל לא לבטל.
Translation: “For the Knesset to be able to override a High Court of Justice disqualification, a special majority of more than 72 MKs is needed. Regarding the reasonableness standard - it should be narrowed but not abolished.”
The list did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so it has no votes to check.
All sources (1)▾
די
The Reservists – The Economic Party
Leaning toward Curtail the High Court's powers
Weak evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
1 platform section · Published in the list's name
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersSeptember 22, 2026
״כדי שהכנסת תוכל לגבור על פסילת בג"ץ, צריך רוב מיוחס של יותר מ-72 חברי כנסת. בנוגע לעילת הסבירות - צריך לצמצם אבל לא לבטל.״
Translated from Hebrew: “For the Knesset to be able to override a High Court of Justice disqualification, a special majority of more than 72 MKs is needed. Regarding the reasonableness standard - it should be narrowed but not abolished.”
From the platform the list published. As reported by ynet on the list's answer to its editorial questionnaire.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
2 platform sections · 2 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
5 tweets · 5 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
בג"ץ הפך לרשות מחוקקת-על שמתערבת בסוגיות מדיניות וערכיות שאינן שפיטות, ללא סמכות בחוק. העם הוא הריבון, והכרעות ערכיות ולאומיות חייבות להישאר אך ורק בידי נבחריו בכנסת.
Translation: “The High Court of Justice has become a super-legislative authority that intervenes in policy and value issues that are not justiciable, without authority in law. The people is the sovereign, and value-based and national decisions must remain solely in the hands of its elected representatives in the Knesset.”
The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.
All sources (14)▾
ט
Religious Zionism–Zehut
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
Note: The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.
4 plenum votes · Official record
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersJuly 11, 2023
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersMarch 13, 2023
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersFebruary 22, 2023
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
צריך איזון בין הרשויות, ולא ממשלה שיכולה לעשות מה שבא לה בלי איזונים ובלמים. במיוחד במדינה שבה זכויות המיעוט הלאומי נפגעות שוב ושוב - האיזונים האלה חיוניים.
Translation: “There needs to be a balance between the branches, and not a government that can do whatever it wants without checks and balances. Especially in a country where the rights of the national minority are harmed again and again - these balances are essential.”
The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (5)▾
ודם
Joint List
Firm position: Keep judicial review
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
3 statements in the media · 3 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
2 tweets · 2 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
לא כולם הבינו שהרפורמה המשפטית אמורה לשרת אותנו בחוק הגיוס. אנחנו מבחינתנו היינו צריכים את פסקת ההתגברות
Translation: “Not everyone understood that the judicial reform was supposed to serve us on the draft law. As far as we were concerned, we needed the override clause”
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersMarch 13, 2023
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersFebruary 22, 2023
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
אנו סבורים שמנגנון ההתגברות מעודד חיכוך מיותר בין מערכת המשפט לבין המערכת הפוליטית ואין לאמצו בישראל. ישר! תשקם את האיזון והכבוד ההדדי בין הכנסת למערכת המשפט. נעגן מנגנון מתוקן ומאוזן לביקורת שיפוטית על חקיקה (חוק יסוד: השפיטה), לצד חוק יסוד: החקיקה, על בסיס המלצות צוות מקצועי
Translation: “We are of the view that the override mechanism encourages unnecessary friction between the judicial system and the political system and should not be adopted in Israel. Yashar! will restore the balance and mutual respect between the Knesset and the judicial system. We will enshrine an amended and balanced mechanism for judicial review of legislation (Basic Law: The Judiciary), alongside Basic Law: Legislation, based on the recommendations of a professional team”
4 votes by the list's candidates in the outgoing Knesset · 4 toward "Keep judicial review"
5 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
The votes here are the personal votes of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset, not votes by the list.
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
4 votes by the list's candidates in the outgoing Knesset · Official recordThe list itself did not serve in the 25th Knesset, so these are the personal votes of its candidates who did serve, not votes by the list.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
5 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
5 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
5 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 5 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
6 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 6 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
6 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 6 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
1 platform section · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
4 tweets · 4 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
החזרת בג"ץ לייעודו הטבעי - מבחן זכות העמידה והחזרת הכלל כי לא הכל שפיט
Translation: “Returning the High Court of Justice to its natural purpose - the standing test and restoring the rule that not everything is justiciable”
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersMarch 13, 2023
6 of the list's MKs voted: 6 for, 0 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersFebruary 22, 2023
6 of the list's MKs voted: 6 for, 0 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
2 platform sections · 2 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
1 tweet · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
האיזון בין הרשויות הופר ובית המשפט לקח לעצמו סמכויות-יתר. לכן ישנו צורך בתיקון שיאפשר לרצון העם לבוא לידי ביטוי באמצעות נציגיו, נבחרי הציבור, בכנסת ישראל.
Translation: “The balance between the branches has been upset and the court has taken excessive powers for itself. Therefore there is a need for an amendment that will allow the will of the people to be expressed through its representatives, the elected officials, in the Knesset of Israel.”
The list did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so it has no votes to check.
All sources (3)▾
ך
Amcha Yisrael
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
2 platform sections · Published in the list's name · from 2 sources
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersSeptember 22, 2026
״האיזון בין הרשויות הופר ובית המשפט לקח לעצמו סמכויות-יתר. לכן ישנו צורך בתיקון שיאפשר לרצון העם לבוא לידי ביטוי באמצעות נציגיו, נבחרי הציבור, בכנסת ישראל.״
Translated from Hebrew: “The balance between the branches has been upset and the court has taken excessive powers for itself. Therefore there is a need for an amendment that will allow the will of the people to be expressed through its representatives, the elected officials, in the Knesset of Israel.”
From the platform the list published. As reported by ynet on the list's answer to its editorial questionnaire.
״נחתור לאיזונים ובלמים במערכת המשפט, לרבות זכות ערעור על החלטות שיפוטיות של בג"ץ באמצעות הקמת ערכאת ערעור עליונה.״
Translated from Hebrew: “We will strive for checks and balances in the justice system, including a right of appeal against judicial decisions of the High Court of Justice through the establishment of a supreme appellate instance.”
Toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"Toward "Keep judicial review"
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Keep judicial reviewJuly 11, 2023
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to abolish judicial review of the reasonableness of decisions by the government and ministers
3 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
Firm position: Curtail the High Court's powers· Partial evidence
Said
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
1 tweet · 1 toward "Curtail the High Court's powers"
ההחלטה הזו רק מחזקת את נחישותנו לתקן מן היסוד את מערכת המשפט ולהחזיר את הכוח לעם ולנבחריו
Translation: “This decision only strengthens our determination to fix the judicial system from the foundations and to return power to the people and its elected representatives”
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersMarch 13, 2023
11 of the list's MKs voted: 11 for, 0 against. For = to limit the Supreme Court's authority to strike down laws and to allow the Knesset to re-enact a law that was struck down (override clause)
Toward: Curtail the High Court's powersFebruary 22, 2023
10 of the list's MKs voted: 10 for, 0 against. A vote for limits the court's authority to review decisions appointing ministers and gives the Knesset authority to decide on removing a minister from office.
