The paper was written by Dr. Avishalom Westreich and Prof. Pinchas Shiffman, edited by Prof. Ruth
Gavison, translated by Kfir Levi, and published by Metzilah – Center of Zionist, Jewish, Liberal, and
Humanistic Thought.
This paper examines the existing legal and social reality in the field of marriage and divorce
in the State of Israel. It claims that the current legal arrangement, which subjects such a
significant aspect of Israeli civil life to a religious monopoly, is unjustified and ineffective. Our
paper proposes an alternative solution in the form of a civil legal framework for marriage
and divorce in Israel.
Gavison, translated by Kfir Levi, and published by Metzilah – Center of Zionist, Jewish, Liberal, and
Humanistic Thought.
This paper examines the existing legal and social reality in the field of marriage and divorce
in the State of Israel. It claims that the current legal arrangement, which subjects such a
significant aspect of Israeli civil life to a religious monopoly, is unjustified and ineffective. Our
paper proposes an alternative solution in the form of a civil legal framework for marriage
and divorce in Israel.
The Palestinian claim regarding the return of the Palestinian refugees and their descendents to the State of Israel is one of the most difficult issues facing the parties as they seek to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
What is the position of international law regarding the claim that the refugees and their descendents have a vested legal right to return to the State of Israel?
What is the position of international law regarding the claim that the refugees and their descendents have a vested legal right to return to the State of Israel?
What salient democratic trends has Israel experienced since winning independence? What demographic changes have been taking place in recent years, and why? What will Israel's demographic composition look like in the future? What role does public policy play in shaping the country’s future prospects and preparedness? These are just some of the questions to be addressed by "Demographic Trends in Israel.”
Today, Israel has neither a systematic immigration policy nor a policy toward immigrants. Absent a normative and structural infrastructure and absent adequate legislation, Israel is unprepared to cope with the political, social, security, and economic challenges that its immigrants bring in train. Israel’s daunting immigration reality is the blatant outcome of its lack of a coherent policy.
The Law of Return, passed unanimously by the Knesset with much excitement and elation in 1950 on the day commemorating Theodor Herzl, establishes the principle that “every Jew is entitled to come to this country as an Oleh” and lays the foundation for the preference given to Jews in Aliyah and in the acquisition of citizenship in Israel. The law is considered one of the primary expressions of Israel as a Jewish state
This paper positions long-term aims for the State, which will facilitate a fitting balance between social cohesion and involvement in the national endeavor, on the one hand, and dissension and multiplicity of opinions, on the other.
