Well, after years of work, the constitution I wrote with several others was officially presented to President Katzav today amidst appropriate fanfare. About 40 people attended the ceremony in the President's house. Speakers included one of my co-drafters, Prof. Avi D, Prof. Ruth G (who praised the draft rather effusively), the new head of vaadat hukah, Menachem Ben-S, and the President himself. (I use initials not to imitate the breathless style of gossip columnists but simply to foil ego-surfers who will surely identify me.)
Little pastries were served, dignitaries and intellectuals mingled and gesticulated and were all oh-so-clever, flashbulbs popped (so to speak). These glorified photo-ops are sort of satisfying in their own pompous way. But Israeli pompous has its own special character. For example, Avi D couldn't be bothered to tuck in his shirt, never mind wear a jacket, even though he was one of the speakers. And nobody cared. Israel is really great that way.
congratulations on the culmination of years of work. I hope it all works out the way you would like it to.
ReplyDeleteRussell,
ReplyDelete1. We virtually invite regional elections by omitting the words "nation-wide" and "representational" in Par. 40. There's no need to get more specific than that at the constitutional level.
2. An MK cannot serve in the Cabinet as per Par. 53.
When Prof. Ruth G. finally makes it onto the high court, do you think she will push your constitution and/or try and "undo" parts of the earlier "constitutional revolution" or - like Judge Cheshin did after all was said and done - just go with the flow?
ReplyDeleteShe is unlikely at that point (or even now) to advocate any particular constiututional draft but she would certainly try to stem the tide of judicial overreaching. She'll be nobody's patsy.
ReplyDeletecongratulations, yishar koahh to everyone involved!
ReplyDelete