Israel
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary democracy
- CONSTITUTION
- there is no written constitution, but a set of laws approved by Parliament regulates constitutional rights and institutional activities. Since May 2003, the Constitutional Committee has been working on drafting a proper constitutional text
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on common law and, for individual rights, on Jewish, Christian, and Muslim codes
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament (Knesset)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (judges appointed by the Judicial Selection Committee. Mandatory retirement at 70 years)
RELIGIONS
76% Jews, 16% Muslims, Christians
From the country
- MARCH 31, 2026IsraelDEATH PENALTY
ISRAEL PASSES DEATH PENALTY LAW FOR PALESTINIANS CONVICTED OF LETHAL ATTACKS
Israel's parliament passed a law on March 30, 2026 making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks
MARCH 31, 2026IsraelDEATH PENALTYISRAEL - Before it comes into force, the new law on the death penalty must be reviewed by the Constitutional Court
- NOVEMBER 13, 2025IsraelDEATH PENALTY
ISRAEL: KNESSET ADVANCES BILL MANDATING DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS WHO KILLED ISRAELIS
Lawmakers on November 10 evening voted 39-16 in favor of the first reading of a controversial government-backed bill sponsored by Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech to impose the death penalty on terrorists who have killed Israelis.
NOVEMBER 4, 2025IsraelDEATH PENALTYISRAEL: KNESSET COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILL INTRODUCING DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS
The Knesset’s National Security Committee, chaired by Zvika Fogel, approved on November 3, 2025 the first reading of a bill proposing the death penalty for perpetrators of terrorist attacks.
- MARCH 27, 2023United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
ISRAELI SENTENCED TO DEATH IN UAE RETURNS HOME
Fida Kiwan, a Haifa native who was sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates for drug trafficking, was pardoned by the UAE and given leave to return home, according to a March 25, 2023 Walla! report.
FEBRUARY 27, 2023IsraelDEATH PENALTYISRAEL: DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS BILL APPROVED BY CABINET
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation on 26 February 2023 approved a bill that institutes a death penalty for terrorists.
- APRIL 12, 2022United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
ISRAELI ON UAE DEATH ROW WON'T BE EXECUTED, OFFICIAL SAYS
Fida Kiwan, the Israeli woman sentenced to death for drug smuggling in the United Arab Emirates will not be executed but will serve a prison sentence instead, a senior Israeli official said on 5 April 2022.
FEBRUARY 9, 2021IsraelDEATH PENALTYTHAILAND: ISRAELI ON DEATH ROW TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ISRAEL
After being sentenced to death and managing to survive in one of the harshest prisons in Thailand — and after a long legal battle in the Israeli Supreme Court led by Adv. Nechama Tzivin — Israeli citizen Yigal Makhlouf will soon be transferred to Israel a
- JANUARY 1, 2020IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2019IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2018IsraelDEATH PENALTY
ISRAEL: SHIN BET CHIEF ‘UNEQUIVOCALLY’ AGAINST DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS
Shin Bet security service chief Nadav Argaman said on 6 November 2018 that he was “unequivocally” against a controversial bill that aims to make it easier for Israel to sentence convicted Palestinian attackers of civilians and soldiers to death.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2018IsraelDEATH PENALTY
ISRAEL: NETANYAHU GREEN-LIGHTS DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISTS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the go-ahead on 4 November 2018 for lawmakers to advance a controversial bill calling for the death penalty for convicted Palestinian killers of Israeli civilians and soldiers, reportedly rejecting the advice of the