The Movement for Quality Government in Israel

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel
Name	The Movement for Quality Government in Israel
Native name	המאבק למען שלטון החוק בישראל
Formation	1990
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Tel Aviv
Leader title	Chairman
Leader name	Shmuel Flatto-Sharon

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel is an Israeli civic association established in 1990 that campaigns for judicial independence, public integrity, and rule-of-law principles in Israel. It has engaged with institutions such as the Supreme Court of Israel, the Knesset, and the Attorney General of Israel, and has organized public demonstrations, petitions, and litigation involving figures from the Likud and Yesh Atid political spectrums. The movement interacts with legal actors including former justices of the Supreme Court of Israel and civil-society organizations such as Movement for Freedom of Information and B'Tselem.

History and Foundation

Founded in 1990 by a group of lawyers, academics, and public figures during debates over judicial appointments and administrative reform, the organization emerged amid disputes involving the Judicial Selection Committee, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and legislation concerning the Basic Laws of Israel. Early supporters included retired judges from the Israeli judiciary and academics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, while contemporaneous political contexts involved leaders such as Yitzhak Shamir and events like the aftermath of the First Intifada. The movement gained prominence during controversies over the Attorney General of Israel's role and during high-profile inquiries such as the Sharon Commission and debates connected to Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon administrations.

Organisation and Leadership

The movement is organized as a non-profit association with a board composed of lawyers, professors, and former public officials, drawing participants from institutions like Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and legal chambers in Jerusalem. Leadership roles have included chairpersons who coordinated with civic groups such as Israel Democracy Institute and bar associations including the Israel Bar Association. Its networks extend to parliamentary factions in the Knesset and collaborations with advocacy groups like Adalah and Shurat HaDin on specific legal matters. Operational activities have been headquartered in Tel Aviv, while regional actions have involved municipalities including Haifa and Beersheba.

Mission, Goals, and Activities

The movement's stated mission centers on defending judicial independence, opposing perceived politicization of the judiciary, and promoting transparency in public office; it frames its objectives relative to institutions such as the Supreme Court of Israel, the Knesset, and the Attorney General of Israel. Activities include filing petitions to the Supreme Court of Israel, organizing public demonstrations near the Knesset and at courthouses, publishing position papers used by academics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and policy analysts at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel, and litigating matters involving appointment procedures before the High Court of Justice (Israel). The movement has also submitted amicus curiae briefs in cases concerning legislative initiatives raised by factions like Likud and Religious Zionism.

Major Campaigns and Protests

Major campaigns have included nationwide protests opposing proposals perceived to curb judicial review introduced by coalitions led by Benjamin Netanyahu, legislative pushes by the Religious Zionism party, and controversies tied to appointments debated in the Judicial Selection Committee. The movement organized rallies that drew comparisons to mass mobilizations such as those around the Or Commission conclusions and the protests following the 2006 Lebanon War. Demonstrations have taken place near symbolic sites including the Knesset Menorah, the Supreme Court of Israel building in Jerusalem, and public squares in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Campaigns have been supported by legal scholars from Bar-Ilan University and human-rights groups like B'Tselem and sparked responses from politicians including Gideon Sa'ar and Avigdor Lieberman.

Political Influence and Advocacy

Through litigation and public pressure, the movement has influenced appointments to the Judicial Selection Committee and shaped public debate on legislative proposals affecting the Basic Laws of Israel. Its advocacy has intersected with policy discussions led by think tanks such as the Israel Democracy Institute and elicited commentary from international observers including legal scholars at Oxford University and Harvard Law School. The movement's interventions have been cited in Knesset committee hearings and in media outlets reporting on actions by figures like Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. Its stature has made it a reference point in debates over separation of powers involving the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Israel.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics, including politicians from Likud and commentators aligned with Religious Zionism, have accused the movement of partisan bias and of attempting to block democratic reforms promoted by elected majorities. Detractors have pointed to disputes involving public figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu and legal clashes over the role of the Attorney General of Israel as evidence of politicization. Some academic critics from institutions like Bar-Ilan University and media outlets sympathetic to Yamina have challenged its framing of judicial independence, while other NGOs have debated its strategies in contexts involving security-related legislation tied to the Israel Defense Forces.

Legal Actions and Court Cases

The movement has been a frequent petitioner before the High Court of Justice (Israel)],] initiating cases related to appointments to the Judicial Selection Committee, challenges to Knesset bills impacting the Supreme Court of Israel, and petitions concerning the conduct of the Attorney General of Israel. Notable legal actions include interventions in cases with participants such as former justices of the Supreme Court of Israel and hearings convened at the court complex in Jerusalem. These cases have shaped jurisprudence on judicial review and administrative law and have sometimes resulted in rulings that influenced legislative tactics by factions including Likud and Labor Party.

Category:Civil rights organizations based in Israel Category:1990 establishments in Israel