Looking at Israel- The State

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel (14 May 1948) constitutes the nation's credo, stipulating that "The State of Israel... will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the holy places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

Israel is a parliamentary democracy, with legislative, executive and judicial branches operating on the principle of separation of powers to ensure checks and balances within the system.

THE PRESIDENT, whose duties are largely ceremonial, symbolizes the unity of the state. Elected by the Knesset (Israel's parliament) for one seven-year term, the president signs laws, pardons prisoners and commutes sentences upon recommendation of the Minister of Justice and accepts the credentials of foreign envoys.

THE KNESSET, the legislative body, is a 120-member, unicameral parliament which operates in plenary sessions and through 15 standing committees. General debates and votes on legislative proposals submitted by the government or via private members' bills, as well as on government policy and activity, take place in plenary sessions. To become law a bill must pass three readings in the Knesset: amendments are incorporated at the committee stage, after the first reading, and reviewed in plenary session at the second; a final vote is taken at the third reading. The president, prime minister, Knesset speaker and minister responsible sign the bill into law. Knesset debates are conducted in Hebrew; Arab and Druze members may address the House in Arabic (Israel's other official language); simultaneous translation is available in both languages.

Knesset members, representing a wide range of political parties, are chosen every four years in nationwide elections, with the whole country constituting a single electoral constituency. The number of seats assigned to each party in the Knesset is proportional to its share of the total national vote. Every citizen is entitled to vote from age 18 and to be elected to office from age 21.

THE GOVERNMENT (executive branch) is responsible to the Knesset and subject to its confidence. Its policy-making powers are very wide with respect to all major aspects of the country's life. The president directs a Knesset member with the responsibility of forming a government and presenting, within 28 days, a list of ministers for Knesset approval; half of the ministers must be Knesset members. Most ministers are assigned a portfolio and head a ministry; others serve without portfolio but may be given responsibility for special projects. The prime minister may also serve as a minister with a portfolio.

All governments since 1948 have been based on a coalition among several parties as, to date, no one party has received over half of the 120 Knesset seats. The government serves for a period of four years, although its term may be shortened by the resignation or death of the prime minister or by a vote of no-confidence in the Knesset.

THE JUDICIARY is entirely independent of the executive and the legislature; judges are appointed by the president on recommendation of a public nominations committee, to serve until their mandatory retirement at age 70. The judicial system consists of three levels of courts: magistrate's courts, which deal with civil and minor criminal offenses; district courts, which deal with all criminal and civil cases not within the competence of lower courts; and the Supreme Court, with countrywide jurisdiction, serving as the highest court of appeal and sitting also as a High Court of Justice in petitions brought by persons seeking redress against a public authority.

Special courts deal with specific matters such as traffic offenses, labor disputes, juvenile delinquency, small claims and the like. Jurisdiction over matters of personal status (marriage and divorce) is vested in the courts of the various religious communities.

Upon attaining statehood, the body of law adopted consisted of statutes in force during the British Mandate period (1922-48), insofar as they were consistent with the provisions of the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. Since then, new laws have been enacted and old ones revised to address current situations. The functioning of the main institutions of the state is regulated by a number of Basic Laws.

Citizens are guaranteed full democratic and human rights, ranging from freedom of speech, religion, universal suffrage and equality before the law. Freedom of the press, of political affiliation, of occupation and of strike and demonstration are embodied in Israel's laws and traditions.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT includes 69 municipalities and 141 local councils. Municipal and local councils are elected on the basis of proportional representation; mayors and heads of local councils are chosen by direct vote. The heads of 54 regional councils are selected from among the chairpersons of the committees of each community in the region or by direct vote.

THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES (IDF) is comprised of conscription, reserve and career service. All eligible men and women are drafted at age 18, men for three years and women for two years, with men liable for reserve duty until age 51 and women until age 24. Individuals accepted at institutions of higher education in disciplines needed by the IDF (medicine, nursing, teaching, engineering, etc.) may defer induction and serve in the IDF in their profession for 3-5 years after graduation. With a small standing army, the IDF is built principally on its reserves, which are regularly called up for training and service. Thus, nation and army are, in essence, one, with those in and out of uniform virtually interchangeable.

Through the years, the IDF has also been responsive to the demands of the society at large, assuming a variety of social-national functions, and operating a wide range of projects which focus on areas of greatest need at the time.