As part of the British Friends’ ongoing centennial celebrations, the British Friends Legal Group convened a timely and deeply engaging panel discussion addressing one of the most critical turning points in modern Israeli democracy: “The Most Consequential Elections in Israeli History? Constitutional Crisis, War, and the Ballot of 2026.”
Chaired by the esteemed Lord Pannick KC, the evening brought together leading legal minds and experts to dissect the profound intersection of constitutional law, national security, and democratic resilience during a period of unprecedented challenge for Israel.
The discussion featured an extraordinary line-up of legal and political scholars:
Professor Tomer Broude, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University and holder of the Bessie and Michael Greenblatt Q.C. Chair in Public and International Law.
Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Professor and Chair in Politics at the University of Hull, President of the Association for Israel Studies, and visiting professor at UCLA and Johns Hopkins University.
Professor Yoav Dotan, Edwin A. Goodman Professor for Public Law and former Dean at the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Navigating Constitutional Crossroads
As Israel faces the dual pressures of ongoing conflict and deep internal debate over its judicial and political structures, the panel explored what makes the upcoming electoral landscape uniquely pivotal. Discussions centered on the fragile balance between judicial oversight and legislative power, the legacy of recent constitutional crises, and how democratic institutions are holding firm under wartime conditions.
Guests were treated to rigorous legal analysis, thoughtful debate, and a nuanced perspective on the mechanisms safeguarding Israeli democracy’s future.
For those who were unable to attend—or who wish to rewatch the insightful commentary—the complete video recording of the panel session is available below:
🔗 Watch the Event Recording on Google Drive
