Israel has no written constitution. Various attempts to draft the formal document since 1948 have fallen short of the mark, and instead Israel has evolved a system of basic laws and rights, which enjoy semi-constitutional status. This provisional solution is increasingly inadequate for Israel's needs, and the necessity for completing this historic task has never been more urgent.
In May 2003, as the Chair of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, I initiated the Constitution by Broad Consensus Project, which aims to complete the work of writing a constitution for Israel that will enjoy wide support. The Committee seeks to create a constitution that represents all members of Israeli society, including minority populations, particularly Arab Israelis.
The Committee believes that since Israel is the democratic state of the Jewish people, it is appropriate to appeal to the worldwide Jewish community to inform them, and invite their input, on the constitutional issues in general, and particularly those questions which involve the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people.
This website is a first step in the important project of involving the world Jewry in the constitutional process. In it you will find information presenting and explaining major constitutional issues and disputes; summaries of the Committee meetings, and proposed drafts of chapters of the constitution. Discussion forums will allow readers to comment, express opinions, and read other people’s thoughts on the issues. The website updates itself constantly, concurrently with the ongoing activities of the Constitution Committee.
I invite you to read the various documents and reports on this website. I invite you to comment, make suggestions, and make your influence felt. In short, I invite you to take a part in writing a draft of a Constitution for Israel.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Eitan Chairman of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee
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