The Israeli Association of Public Law (IAPL) aims to promote public law in Israel and to develop and protect its core principles and values. Established in 1988 as a registered nonprofit organization, the IAPL serves as the Israeli branch of The International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL)

The IAPL was founded by Prof. Itzhak Zamir, its first chairperson, was a professor of public law at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, former attorney general of Israel and former Supreme Court justice. The association’s first president was the leading constitutional scholar, the late Prof. Itzhak Hans Klinghofer. Prof. Shimon Shetreet, who held several government ministries, was its first secretary. These well-esteemed early leaders were followed by long line of eminent jurists and scholars, including Chief Justice (ret.) Dorit Beinisch, Justice (ret.) Dalia Dorner, Justice (ret.) Eliahu Mazza, Prof. Claude Klein, Prof. Barak Medina, Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Prof. Daphne Barak-Erez, Prof. Ariel Bendor, Prof. Yoram Rabin, Prof. Suzie Navot, Prof. Yaniv Roznai, Prof. Yishai Blank, Dr. Meital Pinto, Dr. Bell Yosef, and Prof. Amnon Reichman

Currently, the IAPL is led by its President, Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, Vice President of the Israeli Supreme Court (Ret.). Prof. Keren Weinshall serves as Chairperson and Dr. Neta Nadiv as Secretary. The association is a registered nonprofit organization, and all posts are held on a voluntary basis

Our Mission and Activities

As a young democracy, Israel calls upon its judicial system to deal with an exceptionally wide range of complex and controversial issues. These include the constitutional rights of minorities; the intricacies of emergency laws and wartime conduct; unique citizenship regulations; the complicated relations between religion and state; and the special role of the Israeli Supreme Court in the constitutional discourse

The IAPL actively seeks to broaden and deepen the public and academic discourse on these critical issues and a host of others. The association’s flagship program, its annual conference, brings together leading practitioners and scholars of Israeli law to examine and discuss timely topics involving public law. For example, in 2011, one of the main panels focused on the constitutional meaning and implications of the Jewish State; and in 2013, panels were dedicated to the national duty to serve in the military, as well as to issues related to immigration and family reunification

Approximately 200 judges, academics, legal advisers, and practitioners convene annually at the conference to listen, learn, explore, and share their thoughts on these crucial topics, engaging in substantive debate that is often picked up by the media. During the conference, the IAPL announces winners of "The Gorny Prize for Excellence in Public Law" in three categories: lifetime achievements; Award for lawyers in the public sector; and young scholar award

In addition to the annual conference, the IAPL initiates daily workshops and activities such as organized "conversations at the bar." The IAPL also operates a "Young Forum," a chapter specifically designed for younger scholars and practitioners of public law. We organize workshops where younger scholars can present their work to established academics in a friendly and productive professional environment, as well as social events where they can meet the best minds in public law and foster long-lasting professional connections

Finally, to support the publication of research related to public law, the IAPL established a digital platform in collaboration with the Hebrew Research Network of SSRN and the Association for Public Law in Israel, focusing on the fields of public law (the digital journal of public law HRN PL – Public Law)

To better promote its aims, the association cooperates with various organizations and leading figures, both in Israel and internationally – notably serving as the Israeli branch of the International Association of Constitutional Law

PRESIDENT: JUSTICE ELYAKIM RUBINSTEIN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ISRAELI SUPREME COURT (RET.)

CHAIR: PROF. KEREN WEINSHALL

SECRETARY: DR. NETA NADIV