Ask Haviv Anything Episode 69: Israel's great divide - An insider's look at the judicial reform, with Moshe Koppel
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Dec 19, 2025 
This week, Moshe Koppel, a computer science professor and founder of the Kohelet Forum, delves into the heated topic of Israel's judicial reform. He highlights the deep divides it has caused in society, fueled by political missteps and inadequate dialogue. Koppel discusses the complexities of judicial appointments, the impact of judicial overreach, and the vital need for accountability in governance. He also sheds light on how recent conflicts have reshaped public perception and the political landscape, while advocating for a balanced approach to reform.
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Pragmatic Vision For Reform
- Moshe Koppel frames reform as defending a pragmatic, classical-liberal vision of Israel rather than moving toward theocracy.
- He argues structural reforms must be judged behind a veil of ignorance, not by today's partisan control.
Avoid Maximalist Opening Positions
- Koppel concedes maximalist opening positions ruin complex, multi-stage negotiations and destroy trust.
- He advises starting with credible, moderate positions to preserve staged compromises across time.
Four Structural Flaws In Israeli Judiciary
- Koppel lists four structural problems: appointment capture, unlimited standing, lack of justiciability limits, and vague grounds like 'unreasonableness'.
- He says those gaps let the court substitute its judgment across policy areas with no institutional checks.