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Why doesn’t Israel have a constitution and what would it mean to finally write one

Aviva Klompas sits down with Dr. Michael Oren to discuss one of the most foundational—and contentious—questions about Israeli democracy: the absence of a formal constitution.

Despite a promise made at the country’s founding in 1948, Israel continues to operate under a framework of Basic Laws and judicial precedents, with no singular document that defines the principles, powers, and limits of governance.

As Israel faces political upheaval, protests, war on multiple fronts, and a deepening struggle over the role of the judiciary, the debate over a constitution has resurfaced with urgency. Once an opponent of adopting a constitution, Dr. Oren now believes it’s essential to Israel’s future—and even to its security.

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Referenced in the episode:
2048: The Rejuvenated State by Michael Oren
Israel needs a constitution to prevent civil war by Michael Oren