Parliamentary Caucus
Our parliamentary work is the direct line between civic initiatives and Israel's legislative branch. We translate what communities are asking for into bills and create the conditions for real dialogue between organizers and lawmakers.
Lines of Support
- LegislationDrafting and advancing the Neighborhood Councils Legalization Act for Israeli cities.Expert inputAnalytical reports and professional briefings for the relevant Knesset committees.Direct advocacyRegular meetings between civic organizers and Members of Knesset, plus sustained work with parliamentary factions. We also push a broader conversation on overhauling the law around civic participation and expanding the authority of local communities.Mission. Put the right of citizens to form neighborhood councils into law — and make civic self-governance a guaranteed part of how Israel is governed, not the product of one-off local efforts.What We're Building
- A legislative foundationGet the Neighborhood Councils Legalization Act passed. This gives neighborhood councils official legal standing and a clearly defined set of powers, moving them from informal civic groups to full participants in governance.
- Expert influence in policyEmbedding Derech Eretz analysis in the national policy process. We work to make our reports, research, and expertise the basis for parliamentary hearings and faction-level work.
- Legitimacy and structural reformBuilding recognition across Israel's political, legal, and media landscape that civic self-governance is a legitimate and necessary institution. In parallel, we are opening a broad public conversation and pushing for legal reforms that expand the framework for civic participation.
A draft law on the regulation of the status of district committees has been adoptedDate: May 25, 2026
Internal Number: 2243531
Purpose: The regulation of district committees will help deepen civic participation, increase trust in municipal authorities, reduce alienation and polarization, and improve the quality of decision-making at the district and city levels.
Definitions: “District committee” means an elected body of district residents in a municipality with a population of more than 50,000, operating as a municipal corporation within the meaning of Section 249 of the Local Government Act [as amended]; “Body” means a municipality with a population of more than 50,000; “Minister” means the Minister of the Interior; “Regulations” means regulations established by the Minister pursuant to this Law with the approval of the Knesset Committee on Internal Affairs and the Environment.
Obligation to Establish: (a) A municipality shall facilitate the establishment of neighborhood committees within its jurisdiction in every neighborhood where a two-thirds majority of its residents wish to establish such a committee, within 18 months of this Act coming into force. (b) The establishment of a neighborhood committee is contingent upon direct elections by the neighborhood’s residents, which shall be held concurrently with municipal elections.Would you like to help the project grow? We would appreciate any support.ContactGet in touch to discuss an initiative, a partnership, or a way to get involved. We respond within two business days.224 Yafo Street, Jerusalem, Israel