Basic Law

Most coverage of Israeli law gets one thing disastrously wrong and that misunderstanding is now shaping Israel’s political future. In this episode of "Basic Law", we pull back the curtain on the immense, largely unexamined power of Israel’s Attorney General, why reform efforts didn’t begin with today’s government and how decades of legal drift quietly reshaped Israeli democracy. From absurd media narratives to historic showdowns that changed elections, this conversation reveals why the real battle isn’t left versus right, but accountability versus unchecked authority. If you think this debate is new, partisan, or simple, this episode will force you to rethink everything.

Aylana Meisel-Diament sits down with former Palau Supreme Court Justice and U.S. constitutional scholar Greg Dolin to tackle one of the most uncomfortable and urgent questions facing Jewish communities today. As cities like London and possibly Sydney begin criminalizing antisemitic slogans, America’s First Amendment protections collide with real-world threats to Jews in public, at universities and even in religious institutions. Can free speech coexist with safety? Or is censorship feeding the very extremism it seeks to contain? And what course of action should American Jews pursue?

A controversial court ruling in Israel collided with a global wave of antisemitic violence and the consequences may be far bigger than most people realize. As Jews mourn a brutal Hanukkah massacre in Australia and attacks surge across the West, Israel finds itself paralyzed by an unelected official wielding extraordinary power at the worst possible moment. In this episode, we explore why Israel’s internal political fracture isn’t just a domestic legal fight. Drawing on history, Hanukkah’s hard lessons and today’s alarming reality, this conversation asks a dangerous question: when Israel cannot fully govern itself, who ultimately pays the price?

Israel is once again confronting the unthinkable: should terrorists be executed? Amid the chaos of political drama, like Itamar Ben-Gvir’s noose pin stunt, the real debate is getting lost. This episode of "Basic Law" slices through the noise to examine the moral, legal and strategic stakes of a renewed push for the death penalty. From historical trauma to October 7th, from Jewish law to the failures of past prisoner swaps, Aylana discusses all the factors behind this landmark debate in Israel. Is the bill a genuine shift or just a signal in an election year culture war?

Israel’s latest legal scandal isn’t just about one leaked video or one reckless military advocate general, it’s a flashing red warning light for the entire constitutional future of the Jewish state. In this episode of "Basic Law," Aylana Meisel-Diament exposes how a single alleged cover‑up spiraled into a labyrinth of judicial self‑policing, political power struggles and a legal system so insulated it may no longer answer to the people it governs. From Supreme Court justices sitting atop every major decision‑making body to a MAG office investigating itself, this case reveals a deeper crisis: can the rule of law survive when those who enforce it are accountable only to themselves?

A scandal of historic proportions has rocked Israel’s legal system. The military’s top legal officer, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, is accused of illegally leaking doctored security footage during wartime, allegedly to smear IDF reservists. The leak triggered riots, international outrage and a cover-up that reached all the way to Israel’s Supreme Court. Now, shocking evidence reveals a web of lies, destroyed phones and possibly a staged suicide attempt, all pointing to deep dysfunction and politicization inside Israel’s law enforcement elite. Legal scholar Yonatan Green joins Basic Law to unpack the explosive implications for civil-military relations, judicial supremacy and the future of Israeli democracy.

In this episode of "Basic Law," host Aylana Meisel dives deep into the fierce legal and political battle over how Israel will investigate the failures of October 7. Featuring expert commentary from Dr. Yaakov Ben Shemesh, the show explores the clash between Israel's government, its Attorney General and the Supreme Court over the formation of a commission of inquiry. At stake: not only national accountability for one of Israel’s darkest days, but also the power to shape the official narrative. Will the inquiry be truly independent or will it be politically weaponized? Meisel and Ben Shemesh break down the two competing legal paths for forming such a commission, the historic precedents and the explosive tensions between Israel’s judiciary and executive branches. With elections looming and public trust eroding, this episode asks: who gets to write Israel’s history, and can the truth survive the politics?

As the United States presses for a Gaza ceasefire and world powers search for “moderate” Palestinian leadership, a major legal development in American courts is challenging the very foundation of those diplomatic efforts. In this episode of “Basic Law,” host Aylana Meisel, Executive Director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, sits down with Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder, Founder of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, to discuss the extraordinary lawsuits now reshaping the conversation on terrorism and antisemitism in America.

In one of the most emotionally charged weeks in Israel’s modern history, “Basic Law,” hosted by Aylana Meisel, Executive Director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, confronts the hardest question of all: When life is sacred, how do you measure its worth?  As Israeli families rejoice at the return of their loved ones, the nation also grapples with the unbearable price: 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists, now walking free. This episode features Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody, author of Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality, for a profound conversation about the moral, legal and spiritual costs of hostage exchanges in Israel’s ongoing struggle for security.

What does it really mean when countries like France, Britain and Australia “recognize” a Palestinian state, and how could it impact Israel’s sovereignty, diplomacy, and security? In this episode of "Basic Law," hosted by Aylana Meisel, Executive Director at the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, we take a deep dive into one of the most consequential debates shaping Israel’s future. Joining the discussion is International law expert Eugene Kontorovich, who explains why symbolic recognitions may seem hollow but could open the door to dangerous precedents at the United Nations, sanctions campaigns modeled on South Africa and pressure to erode Israel’s control over its own borders.