Israeli politician (born 1946)
Professor Shimon Shetreet (Hebrew: שמעון שטרית; born 1 March 1946) is an Israeli former politician who held several ministerial portfolios between 1992 and 1996. He is currently the Greenblatt Chair of Public and International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Early life
Professor Shetreet was born in Erfoud, Morocco, the ninth child in a family of eleven sons and daughters, and immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of three. The family stayed at Sha’ar HaAliyah and later lived for eight months in tents in Pardes Hanna. Subsequently, the family lived in Tiberias, where he grew up and was educated. At first the family lived in tents and tin huts, and later moved into public housing apartments. He initially studied at the Bibas Talmud Torah elementary school and later at the Erlich elementary State School. At the age of 13, he was crowned the winner of the Youth Bible Contest in 1959. The prime minister David Ben-Gurion awarded him the prize and a year later visited him in his home in Housing Project Dalet in Tiberias. Following the visit, Ben-Gurion wrote about him: “brilliant mind.”(Iluy in Hebrew).
Shetreet continued to study the Bible throughout his life. From 1980 to 1982 he was a member of the Bible Study group at the Prime Minister Menachem Begin Residence, which had been held since the days of Ben-Gurion, under the leadership of Professor Chaim Gevaryahu. He also served as a member of the judging panel for the International Bible Contest in Jerusalem in 1981 and 1993. In 2018, he served as a judge in the “Champion of Champions” Bible Contest, alongside the Rishon LeZion, Israel Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.
He completed his military service in the Intelligence Corps, after which he studied law for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and later earned master and doctorate at the University of Chicago Law School in the United States. At the Hebrew University, he also studied Arabic language and literature. He was a lecturer in law at the Hebrew University, and between 1974 and 1977 served as president of the Lecturers’ Union. In 1984 he was appointed associate professor, and in 2001 he was appointed full professor. He published close to 30 books and more than 150 scholarly articles in the field of law. His books and research works are cited by supreme courts around the world. He was awarded the “International Jurist Award 2010, New Delhi.”
Between 1984 and 1988, he was a member of the Plenum of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. From 1986 to 1989, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Bank Leumi. He also served in 1985-1988 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Mishan” — the Histadrut’s network of \old age homes — and was Chairman of the Afro-Asian Institute for International Cooperation from 1988 to 1992.
In 1988, he was elected to the 12th Knesset on behalf of the Alignment Labour and served as a member of the Finance Committee and as chair of a subcommittee on insurance, as well as a member of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. During these years, he concurrently served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Histadrut’s Afro-Asian Institute (1988–1992). In 1992, he was re-elected and appointed a minister in the government of Yitzhak Rabin. He served as Minister of Economy and Planning, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Religious Affairs, and Minister responsible for the Second Authority for Television and Radio. In 1994, he was awarded the “Amity Award” by the Amity Association for the Protection of Integrity and Proper Governance.
In 1998, he ran for mayor of Jerusalem against the incumbent mayor, Ehud Olmert, as part of the “One Jerusalem” faction (formerly the faction of Teddy Kollek), but lost after receiving about a quarter of the voters’ ballots. The “One Jerusalem” list under his leadership won two seats, compared with three seats won by Ehud Olmert’s list.
Shetreet is married to Miriam, a social worker, and they have four children.
Between 1998 and 2003, he served as Senior Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem under Mayor Ehud Olmert.
In 2005, he was appointed by the President of the State to serve on the commission examining the reforms in the System of governance in Israel.
Public Activity
Public Activity
As a member of the board of director sat Bank Leumi, he led a struggle against excessive salary agreements for the bank’s senior executives, headed by Ernst Japhet, who had managed the bank for many years, and brought about the dissolution of the board of directors that did not support his campaign.
He served as Senior Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and initiated social projects and development projects in the city.
He has led forums promoting the preservation of Jewish tradition and heritage from a modern perspective, such as the “Rosh Chodesh Forum,” founded in 1990.
In 1979, he represented the Tents Movement in the High Court of Justice in the “Ohel Moreh” protest.
In 1980, he represented, before the High Court of Justice, the protest of the Tzalash Movement led by Vicky Shiran against the television series Pillar of Fire.
In 1981, he represented residents from Wadi Salib in Haifa on Imber Street in Haifa before the High Court of Justice in their struggle to improve infrastructure.
He serves as President of the World Sephardic Union, which promotes the heritage of Sephardic Jewry.
For many years, he has led a struggle to grant recognition and prestige to the pioneering spirit of the founders of development towns and moshavim in the 1950s and 1960s (see his book Pioneers in Tears, Am Oved Publishing, 1991).
In 2000, he initiated a legal struggle against the sale of control of the Shikun & Binui company to Arison Investments (owned by Ted Arison), which was carried out at a price far below its real value. The sale was made in 1996 at a market valuation of only 300 million shekels, despite valuation assessments that placed the company’s value at double that amount; among other things, the value of the land holdings owned by the company was not taken into account. Two years later, Arison floated the company at a valuation of 970 million shekels. The sale was led by Haim Ramon, who was the Secretary General of the Histadrut at the time. After a legal struggle that lasted six years, the Supreme Court ruled that the sale was “lawful.”
In 2011, a coalition agreement was formulated within the World Zionist Organization regarding Shetreet’s election as Chair of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) as the candidate nominated by the Independence Party. The agreement was supported by 75% of the factions in the World Zionist Organization, but ultimately his election was prevented due to the split within the Labor Party. Eventually, the court ruled that the 2011 agreement did not take precedence over an earlier agreement from 2010, which granted the position to the Labor Party. In the end, all the conditions formulated by Shitrit regarding the composition of the institutions—such as the division of roles and the managerial structure—were implemented, except for his own appointment.
In addition, he served as a director of the Jewish Colonial Trust and of the Israeli Consumer Council, and also served as an external director of Hachshara Insurance.
In 1988, Shetreet together with Professor Yitzhak Zamir, founded the Israeli Association of Public Law.
On September 7, 2020, he announced his intention to run in the 2021 election for President of Israel, but withdrew after failing to obtain the support for his candidacy.
In 2023, he took an active part in the deliberations of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee dealing with the judicial reform legislation. During the discussions, Shetreet warned against the manner in which the reform was being advanced, in an atmosphere of confrontation and hostility toward the judiciary and the legal system as a whole.
In 2024, he chaired the Governance Reform Committee on behalf of the Center for Citizen Empowerment, which was established as a continuation of the 2007 Megidor Governance Committee. The committee recommended a series of governance reforms aimed at ensuring a healthy democracy and restoring public trust in government. The committee members included: Adv. Moshe Nissim, Meir Shetreet Prof. Karin Nahon, Prof. Michal Tamir, and Adv. Eitan Haberman.
Shetreet founded the “Pioneers Award,” which is presented annually to the first pioneers (trailblazers and founding fathers from the early days of Zionism until 1946), the new pioneers (founders of development towns, urban neighborhoods, and new rural settlements in moshavim or kibbutzim during the formative years up to 1964), and the continuing pioneers (from then until the present day).
Political career
During his tenure in the Rabin government (1992), he initiated the establishment of the Social Development Enterprise to encourage business contributions to society. Within this framework, he initiated the “A Computer for Every Child” project. By 2024, the project had provided 146,000 computers to families deemed eligible for support.
In his role as Minister of Religious Affairs, he addressed the plight of individuals barred from marriage, signed the “Alternative Civil Burial Law, 1996,” introduced secular burial, promoted equality in budget allocations, and worked to regulate marriage fees.
As Minister of Economy, he advanced gender equality through the Committee for the Advancement of Women.
He promoted equality for non-Jews (including the allocation of designated positions in the civil service and the translation of civil service tenders) and initiated increased budget allocations in the Ministry of Religious Affairs for non-Jewish communities, as well as a program to improve funding for religious services for non-Jewish communities (the “One Law” program).
He appeared frequently on international television networks, including Arabic-language channels, particularly during the Iron Swords War.
As Minister of Religious Affairs, in 1995–1996 ,he was the architect of reconciliation and unity within the Druze community following severe conflicts after the passing of the community’s leader at the time, Sheikh Amin Tarif .
As the minister responsible, he granted broadcasting franchises to Channel 2 licensees (Reshet, Keshet, and Tellaad, 1993) and laid the foundations for commercial television channels in Israel.
He formulated the framework for establishing television ratings system ( Peoples Meter) and coordinated among all relevant stakeholders (commercial channels, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, The Commercial TV channels, the Association of Advertising Agencies, the Association of Advertisers, and others).
He served as chair of the Social Lobby in the Knesset ,the Israeli Parliament ,and initiated social reforms, including the Guarantee Law, the law limiting interest rates in the gray market, the restoration of Social Security allowances for the first and second child, introduced limits on the detention of debtors, and restrictions on private debt collectors.
As chair of the Social Lobby, he worked to support the mortgage victims and those affected by the housing crisis during the 1990s.
In this role, he also led a successful struggle to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel in Operation Solomon (1990–1991), and as Minister of Religious Affairs worked to improve the status of the kessim and rabbis of the Ethiopian community.
As Minister of Economy, he led initiatives to promote the Galilee and the Negev and initiated the legislation of the “Galilee Development Authority Law, 1993.”
Academic career
Higher Education
Shetreet acquired his higher education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and later at the University of Chicago. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Law of the Hebrew University, graduating in 1968. He completed his master’s degree in 1970 with highest distinction. As part of his legal training, he interned in the chambers of Supreme Court Justice Dr. Alfred Witkon and later at the law office of Gideon Hausner. In 1969, he was admitted to the Israel Bar Association.
Between 1968 and 1970, he was a member of the teaching assistant staff at the Faculty of Law of the Hebrew University and served as a teaching assistant to Professor Yitzhak Hans Klinghoffer, one of the founders of the teaching of public law in Israel.
In 1970, he went to the United States for advanced studies after receiving excellence scholarships from the Hebrew University, the University of Chicago, and the Decalogue Society. In 1971, he completed a master’s degree, and in 1973 he completed his doctoral studies under the guidance of the distinguished constitutional law scholar and was awarded a PhD by the University of Chicago Law School.
Positions at the Hebrew University
Upon his return from the United States in 1973, he was appointed lecturer in law, and in 1978 was promoted to senior lecturer. In 1984, he was appointed associate professor. Following his election to the 12th Knesset in 1988, he was granted unpaid leave from the Hebrew University (1988–1993); however, even during his tenure in the government and the Knesset, he continued his scholarly activity and research and writing work.
After completing his term in government in 1996, he returned to teaching and research at the Hebrew University, and in 2001 was promoted to the rank of full professor. From 2004 to 2008, he served as head of the Sacher Institute for Legislative and Comparative Research.
The Special Contribution of Prof. Shetreet to Judicial Independence
Professor Shimon Shetreet is one of the leading comparative public-law scholars to have shaped the modern understanding of judicial independence, both conceptually and institutionally. His contribution is especially influential in comparative constitutional law and international standards.Shetreet approaches judicial independence as a comprehensive, multidimensional concept.Shetreet argued that judicial independence is not a single guarantee, but a system of interlocking protections. He identified several core dimensions:
Personal independence – secure tenure of the individual judge , protection against arbitrary removal, adequate remuneration, and immunity for judicial acts
Decisional or Substantive independence – freedom of the judge from external and internal pressures in adjudication
Institutional or Collective independence – separation of the judiciary from the executive and legislature, including control over administration and court governance, safeguards for the judiciary as a branch of government, not just individual judges
Internal Independence -independence from pressure from senior judges or judges with administrative responsibility.
This framework moved the discussion beyond formal separation of powers to practical, enforceable safeguards.
A key innovation in Shetreet’s work is the emphasis on objective tests of independence. He maintained that judicial independence must be assessed by how institutions appear to a reasonable observer, not merely by declarations of good faith. This approach later became central in comparative jurisprudence and international doctrine.
Shetreet conducted extensive comparative research on judicial appointment mechanisms, especially the role of judicial councils. He demonstrated that Independence is best protected when appointments, promotions, and discipline are insulated from political dominance. He also concluded that Balanced councils (judges, legal professionals, limited political representation) provide legitimacy without sacrificing independence
His work strongly influenced debates in Europe, Canada, and Israel on court administration and appointments.
Rejecting the claim that accountability undermines independence, Shetreet developed the idea of “accountable judiciary.” He argued that Judicial independence must coexist with transparent ethical standards and disciplinary mechanisms, and that proper accountability strengthens public trust and legitimacy rather than weakening judicial autonomy.
His work contributed to shaping international understandings later reflected in instruments such as the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and regional European standards, even where not formally cited.
Perhaps his most enduring contribution is methodological: Shetreet established judicial independence as a comparative, normative, and institutional discipline, rather than a purely constitutional slogan. His writings remain foundational for courts, reform commissions, and scholars evaluating judicial systems worldwide.
Prof. Shimon Shetreet transformed judicial independence from an abstract ideal into a structured legal doctrine with concrete institutional requirements, balancing autonomy, legitimacy, and accountability.
The Prestigious Gorney Prize for Public Law
The prestigious Gorney Prize for Public Law was awarded in 2025 by the Association for Public Law to Professor Shimon Shetreet. The prize was awarded in recognition of his standing as one of the most influential scholars worldwide in shaping the concept of judicial independence, and for his major contribution to the law and to the protection of the rule of law and democracy. Professor Shetreet thus joins a long list of previous recipients of the Gorney Prize, including Professor Claude Klein, former Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch, Professor Suzie Navot, Professor Yuval Shany, Professor Barak Medina, Professor Amnon Rubinstein, Professor Yitzhak Zamir, and the late Justice Mishael Cheshin.
The Association for Public Law was founded in the early 1980s. Today it is headed by President , former Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, Chair, Professor Keren Winschel, and Secretary General ,Dr. Neta Nadiv.
The judging committee, chaired by Justice Uzi Vogelman, former Acting President of the Supreme Court, emphasized that Professor Shetreet’s scholarly work laid the normative and comparative foundations for understanding the role of the judge in modern democracy, and that it is more relevant today than ever in light of the contemporary challenges facing Israel’s legal system. His theoretical contribution is particularly prominent in his seminal book Judges on Trial and in his development of innovative analytical distinctions. Shetreet articulated a conceptual separation between “institutional independence”—which ensures the judiciary’s independence vis-à-vis the other branches of government—and the personal independence of the individual judge, as well as the development of the concept of “internal independence,” which protects individual judges from pressures exerted by managerial forces within the judicial system itself. He established judicial independence not merely as a privilege of judges, but as a vital foundation for the existence of a democratic regime—hence the awarding of the Gorney Prize to Shetreet.
The influence of Professor Shetreet’s research extended far beyond the boundaries of academia and became a cornerstone of international law. He led global research projects and helped shape the international codex of principles of judicial independence. His ideas have been cited and adopted in rulings of supreme courts around the world, including the House of Lords in the United Kingdom (in the Pinochet case), the Supreme Court of Canada, and courts in Australia, New Zealand, and India. Another central pillar of his thought is the development of the principle of “fair reflection,” which holds that the composition of courts must reflect social diversity—not for the purpose of political allocation, but in order to ensure systemic stability and public trust. This principle was adopted by the Zamir Committee in Israel, as well as in legislation in the United Kingdom and Canada.
The committee further noted that on the domestic front, Professor Shetreet left a profound mark on Israeli public and administrative law. His research on the principles of natural justice led to the adoption of the “triangular model” of administrative defects (nullity, relative nullity, and invalidity), creating a new legal language for judicial review. In addition, his comprehensive book on Basic Law: The Government presented a systematic conception of the executive branch, and his studies on custom in public law helped define the role of the Knesset in approving international agreements. Shetreet’s uniqueness lies in the integration of rigorous academic scholarship with extensive public service over decades—as a member of Knesset, a government minister, and a member of state commissions.
Academic Appointments at Universities Worldwide
Shetreet served as a visiting professor at several universities outside Israel. He was a visiting professor of law at New York University and at the University of California, San Diego. In addition, he held a joint appointment at the University of St. Gallen and the University of Zurich. He later served as a visiting professor at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom (as the Herbert Smith Visiting Professor), at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, United States, as well as at the University of San Diego and the University of Utah.
International Activity
He serves as President of Religions for Peace and as a member of the Peace Parliament of former ministers and members of Knesset.
He serves as President of the International Association of Judicial Independence, whose members include leading jurists from around the world. The organization holds conferences worldwide (including London 2018 Claremont California 2019 , and Jerusalem in 2022). The most recent conference of the International Association of Judicial Independence (JIWP) was its 20th conference, held at the University of Nicosia in 2025. The organization’s next conference is scheduled to take place at the University of Kiel in 2026.
He has extensive international activity in the legal field as President of the International Association of Judicial Independence, which brings together senior jurists from around the world. The organization holds annual conferences (recent conferences were held in London in 2018, Claremont, California in 2019, Potsdam, Germany in 2020, and Warsaw in 2023). The organization is dedicated to protecting judicial independence worldwide. See the link to the “Activities of the International Association of Judicial Independence.” The organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
The European Law Institute, together with the International Association of Judicial Independence under Shitrit’s leadership, formulated rules on judicial independence based on the Mount Scopus Principles of Judicial Independence developed by the Association. These European rules on judicial independence—known as the European Law Institute Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence—were approved in 2024 by the European Law Institute. Professor Shetreet led the project together with the Co- Reporters ,Prof Fryderyk Zoll, Prof Sophie Turenne and Prof. Leah Wortham .During the deliberations leading to the formulation of these European Standards , numerous conferences were held. In addition, Shetreet participated in major conferences addressing judicial independence and democracy, including a conference in Santo Domingo (World Jurist Association) in May 2025. He took part in a high-level dialogue in Brussels between senior European Union officials and a distinguished delegation led by the Polish Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar on the subject the Restoration of the Constitutional Order in Poland at the end of June 2025. He also spoke at a conference at the University of Luxembourg in July 2025.
Shetreet is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences of Belgium.
Legal Positions
Alongside his teaching and research activities, Shetreet also appeared in the courts in cases of public importance, some of which became precedents studied at universities.
In 1988, he was offered an appointment to the Supreme Court, when Justice Avraham Halima was about to retire in 1989, but he preferred to continue teaching and academic research at the university. In addition, he was a member of the team of experts that accompanied the work of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chaired by MK Miki Eitan in preparing a constitution. He was a member of the committee examining the structure of the courts and their powers (chaired by President Moshe Landau, with members Justice Aharon Barak, Adv. A. Gitzelter, and Adv. Y. Aderet). He also served as a member of the President of the State’s Committee for Examining the Structure of Governance, chaired by Menachem Magidor, at the Israeli Center for Citizen Empowerment, and as chair of the subcommittee on the electoral system and the subcommittee on relations between the judiciary and the legislature. In addition, he was a founding secretary of the Association for Public Law in Israel, together with former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice Prof. Yitzhak Zamir.
Shetreet served as a judge of the Standard Form Contracts Tribunal (within the District Court) .He served as chair of the committee for amending the Broadcasting Authority Law regarding the cessation of broadcasts. Among many significant cases, Shetreet appeared in the landmark High Court of Justice case concerning Hiriya.
Publications
Shetreet has published approximately 150 articles and about 30 books. His books have been published by the presses of several universities and leading academic publishers, including Cambridge, Oxford, Brill, De Gruyter, LexisNexis, North-Holland, and the Hebrew University. In addition, Shitrit has published more than 150 articles in legal journals in Israel and around the world. Professor Shimon Shetreet is a leading scholar in Israel and internationally in the fields of the judiciary and public law. In the field of the judiciary, he has had a decisive influence on the conceptual understanding of the status of judges, the foundations of judicial independence, mechanisms for judicial oversight, and the relations between the judiciary and the other branches of government.
A central field of Professor Shetreet’s scholarship, in which he has left a profound mark on legal reality and on judicial rulings, is public law. This includes issues in constitutional law, the principles of natural justice, the status of custom in public law, civil rights, governmental authorities, and judicial review of the actions of the legislative and executive branches.
His research and books are cited with esteem by the Supreme Court of Israel, as well as by supreme courts around the world.
