Published on, Aug. 18 -- August 18, 2025 6:01 AM

Israel occupies a unique position in the global security and political landscape, blending elements of parliamentary democracy with an unusually powerful and deeply embedded military-security apparatus. Unlike most nations, it has never adopted a single, consolidated written constitution. Instead, it relies on a series of Basic Laws passed by the Knesset, which collectively function as a de facto constitutional framework. Some of these laws require supermajorities for amendment, but most can be altered by a simple parliamentary vote, giving legislators significant flexibility in responding to security concerns. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has maintained a legally declared state of e...