How do Israel’s basic laws serve as an alternative to a constitution?

Israel does not have a single, formal written constitution. Instead, its constitutional framework is built upon a series of basic laws that serve as a functional alternative.12

The origin of this system lies in a 1950 political compromise known as the "Harari proposal." Following independence, the Knesset could not agree on a unified constitution, so it decided to draft the document chapter by chapter. These chapters, enacted as basic laws, are intended to serve as the guiding principles of the state.12

Key characteristics of these laws include:
* Legislative Process: They are passed through the regular legislative process, similar to ordinary statutes.12
* Quasi-permanence: While most can be amended by a simple majority, some provisions require a supermajority to change, providing a degree of stability.1
* Judicial Oversight: Although their superiority over ordinary law was initially ambiguous, the High Court of Justice has established the authority to strike down statutes that contradict basic laws, effectively treating them as constitutional in nature.12