Basic Law

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Welcome to “Basic Law,” the new JNS show hosted by Aylana Meisel, Executive Director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum. This series dives deep into Israel’s legal system, dissecting the most pressing legal and constitutional issues facing the nation today.

1d ago

Antisemitism on Campus: The Fight Over Federal Civil Rights

What happens when the government tries to fight antisemitism on campus and the courts stand in its way? In this episode of Basic Law, Aylana Meisel-Diament is joined by Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights, to examine the legal battle over antisemitism in American education. The discussion begins with a federal judge’s decision to dismiss the Justice Department’s civil-rights case against Harvard and what that ruling could mean for future Title VI enforcement. Marcus explains why he believes the decision applied the wrong standard and discusses its potential implications for cases involving other universities, including UCLA. The conversation also explores allegations surrounding the Justice Department’s handling of university investigations, the role of federal funding in enforcing civil-rights protections, and the spread of antisemitism beyond higher education into K-12 schools and other institutions. The Israel Law & Liberty Forum is proud to partner with JNS to offer a platform for conservative and classical liberal legal thought from within Israel. Any opinions stated are those of the speaker and not meant to represent the positions of the Forum or JNS. The Forum fosters thoughtful conversation and debate on key issues in Israeli law and democracy and takes no official positions regarding specific policy issues.
Aug 14

Security vs. Family Rights: The Debate Over Israel’s Citizenship Law

What happens when the right to family life collides with a state's duty to protect its citizens? In this episode of Basic Law, Aylana Meisel-Diament examines the debate over Israel's Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law and the controversial Shir Hagag amendment, which restricts residency or entry for terrorists and certain members of their families. The dispute raises a fundamental question in Israeli law and society: How should Israel balance individual rights against collective security? Supporters of tougher restrictions point to terrorism, security data, deterrence, and Israel's sovereign right to control its borders. Critics argue that penalizing relatives for another person's actions can violate fundamental rights to family life and equality - and risks imposing consequences on people who may have had nothing to do with the offense. The Israeli Supreme Court has wrestled with this broader tension for decades, repeatedly confronting where constitutional rights end and security necessity begins. This episode presents both sides of the debate: Is restricting family reunification and the status of terrorists' relatives a necessary security measure in the fight against terrorism? Or does collective punishment cross a line that a democracy committed to individual rights should not cross?
Aug 7

The Oslo Accords: Security Failures and Their Lasting Consequences

What if one agreement signed 30 years ago is still driving today's biggest security crisis? Former IDF prosecutor Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch argues that the Oslo Accords didn't just fail, they created the conditions for today's security challenges, from the growth of the Palestinian Authority's security forces to the global campaign surrounding "settler violence." You'll learn why he believes the Oslo framework has become a strategic liability and why dismantling the Palestinian Authority has become, in his view, essential for both Israeli and Palestinian security.
Jul 31

Yuli Edelstein: Why Israel's Government Must Change

In this exclusive interview, former Knesset Speaker and longtime Likud leader Yuli Edelstein explains why he left the party, why he believes Israel's political system is no longer functioning as it should and what must change before the country faces its next major crisis. From the Haredi draft debate and judicial reform to Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, the future of the Knesset and the balance of power between the government and the courts, Edelstein offers an insider's perspective on the biggest constitutional and political battles shaping Israel today. Whether you agree with him or not, you'll come away with a deeper understanding of how Israel's government really works and why one of its most experienced lawmakers believes the status quo cannot continue. This is the second installment in a new Basic Law interview series exploring the full spectrum of Israeli political thought ahead of Israel's next national elections. Across the series, you'll hear directly from leaders spanning the political landscape as they explain their vision for Israel's future.
Jul 24

Einat Wilf: Defending Israel in the Narrative War

Israel's political future may be changing faster than anyone realizes. In this exclusive conversation, former Knesset member Dr. Einat Wilf explains why she believes Israel is fighting a battle far bigger than rockets and missiles: a global narrative war that could determine the country's future. From constitutional reform and the role of the Supreme Court to military service, education, Palestinian identity and the creation of her new Oz Party, Wilf lays out a vision that challenges both the Israeli right and left. Whether you agree with her or not, you'll come away with a deeper understanding of the ideological debates shaping Israel's next chapter and why the biggest battles may no longer be fought on the battlefield. This is the first installment in a new Basic Law interview series exploring the full spectrum of Israeli political thought ahead of Israel's next national elections. Across the series, you'll hear directly from leaders spanning the political landscape as they explain their vision for Israel's future.
Jul 17

The ICC's Legitimacy: Law, Justice and Politic

Is the International Criminal Court finally facing its biggest reckoning yet? Host Aylana Meisel examines Secretary of State Marco Rubio's campaign to dismantle the ICC and asks a deeper question: has the court become a political institution rather than a legal one? You'll learn why the ICC's record has drawn criticism around the world, how its cases against Israel fit into a much broader debate over sovereignty and international law and why the distinction between law and justice may be the most important issue of all.
Jul 10

The David Zini Controversy: To Whom Does the Shin Bet Owe Its Loyalty?

David Zini's remarks about where the Shin Bet's loyalty belongs have ignited a fierce national debate, but this episode reveals that the controversy is about far more than one security chief. In this episode of Basic Law, Aylana Meisel-Diament and constitutional scholar Yonatan Green examine why Zini's comments have become a flashpoint in Israel's struggle over the balance of power between elected officials, the courts and the civil service. They also explore the surprising role America's constitutional tradition has played in shaping Israel, from the influence of the U.S. Declaration of Independence on Israel's founding to the importation of modern judicial theories that continue to fuel today's legal and political battles. If you want to understand both the immediate controversy surrounding David Zini and the deeper constitutional ideas driving Israel's ongoing governance debate, this conversation provides the history, context and competing visions shaping the country's future.
Jun 19

Israel’s Judicial Appointment Crisis: Power, Politics and Reform

What if the solution to Israel's judicial crisis isn't more political power, but less judicial power? In this thought-provoking episode of Basic Law, Aylana Meisel unpacks the standoff between Israel's Supreme Court and Justice Minister Yariv Levin over judicial appointments, revealing how a deeper constitutional issue may hold the key to breaking the deadlock. Viewers will learn how Israel's unique judicial selection system works, why court vacancies are creating a growing legal crisis and how decades-old changes to legal standing transformed the Supreme Court into one of the most powerful courts in the democratic world. Most importantly, the episode explores a surprising compromise that could ease political tensions, reduce judicial activism and reshape the future of Israeli democracy...if either side is willing to make the first move.

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Dennis Karpf

04/10/2025

dennis.karpf

Clear, analytical, knowledgeable and well spoken legal interviews which are important for Israeli Parlimentary party system, separation of powers, voting, judiciary, prime minister and policy which impact interpretation and application of Basic Law and Declaration of Independence.

Welcome to “Basic Law,” the new JNS show hosted by Aylana Meisel, Executive Director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum. This series dives deep into Israel’s legal system, dissecting the most pressing legal and constitutional issues facing the nation today.