Since its inception, Israel was established as a constitutional democracy, even in the absence of a constitution, primarily due to the leading role that the Supreme Court has played in this context. In this talk, Professor Wattad will address various perceptions of Jewish democracy, recent changes in Israeli distribution of power, how Israel’s minorities are affected, and how a Jewish democracy will and should play out in Israel’s future. From his unique perspective, he will also discuss the importance of the court system and rights for minorities, as well as current threats to Israel’s democracy.

Professor Mohammed S. Wattad is a legal scholar specializing in international and comparative criminal law, comparative constitutional law, international law, and legal issues surrounding war, torture, and terrorism. A graduate of Haifa University School of Law, Wattad holds a Master of Law degree from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also attended Columbia University as a Fulbright Scholar, where he earned his Juris Doctorate and another Master of Law degree. From 2003-2004, he served as a legal clerk at the Supreme Court of Israel under the supervision of Justice Dalia Dorner. He is currently an assistant professor at Zefat College School of Law in Israel and is editor-in-chief of the Journal 'Medicine and Law'.