Amnon Rubinstein

Israeli politician (1931–2024)
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אמנון רובינשטיין
Rubinstein in 2014
Ministerial roles1984–1987Minister of Communications1992Minister of Science & Technology1992–1993Minister of Energy & Infrastructure1993–1996Minister of Education, Culture & SportFaction represented in the Knesset1977–1978Democratic Movement for Change1977–1992Shinui1992–2002Meretz Personal detailsBorn(1931-09-05)5 September 1931
Tel Aviv, Mandatory PalestineDied18 January 2024(2024-01-18) (aged 92)
Tel Aviv, Israel

Amnon Rubinstein (Hebrew: אמנון רובינשטיין, 5 September 1931 – 18 January 2024) was an Israeli legal scholar, politician and recipient of the Israel Prize (2006) and Cheshin Prize (2010). A member of the Knesset between 1977 and 2002, he served in several ministerial positions. In later life he was dean of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya and a patron of Liberal International.

Early life

Rubinstein was born in Tel Aviv during the Mandate era. His family belonged to the Revisionist Zionist movement. Rubinstein would later split from Revisionism but remain impacted by the classical liberalism that influenced Revisionist founder Ze'ev Jabotinsky.[1]

After serving as a captain in the IDF, he studied economics, international relations, and law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was called to the bar in 1963. He received a PhD in law from the London School of Economics in 1966. Between 1961 and 1975 he worked as a professor of law at Tel Aviv University, serving as faculty dean from 1968 until 1973.[2]

Political career

Rubinstein's political career began when he founded Shinui after the Yom Kippur War. Shinui joined Yigael Yadin's Democratic Movement to form Dash. In the 1977 elections, Dash won 15 seats in the Knesset. Dash's victory came at the expense of the Alignment; for the first time in the 29 years since the founding of the modern state of Israel, the right wing formed the government. However, Rubinstein opposed Dash's participation in Menachem Begin's Likud government coalition, and Shinui broke away from Dash. Rubinstein retained his seat in the 1981 elections, though Shinui was reduced to two seats. After winning three seats in the 1984 elections Shinui were invited into the governing coalition, and Rubinstein was appointed Minister of Communications. Rubinstein was re-elected again in 1988, but Shinui were left out of the government.

Prior to the 1992 elections Shinui merged with Shulamit Aloni's Ratz and Zionist-socialist Mapam to form Meretz, a dovish, social-democratic liberal party. Meretz joined Yitzhak Rabin's government in 1992, and Rubinstein was chosen as Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. However, early into his term he became Minister of Education instead, replacing Shulamit Aloni. As a legislator Rubinstein initiated and legislated the two basic laws that guarantee human rights in Israel (Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation).[3]

As an Education Minister, Rubinstein lowered the bar for high school graduates to enter higher education and developed a system whereby high school students would be required to take fewer matriculation exams: the subjects for the exams would be chosen each year by lottery. He also spoke out against the Psychometric Entrance Test, required of Israeli university applicants, claiming that if he had been required to pass this exam, he would have not been accepted to law school.

Following Likud's victory in the 1996 elections, Rubinstein and Meretz left the government. He was re-elected for a final time in 1999, and resigned from the Knesset at the end of October 2002.

Rubinstein lived to hear his own obituary read in 2000, when due to a practical joke, Knesset speaker Avraham Burg was led to believe that he had died.[4] Rubinstein, who was hospitalized at the time for a minor complaint, saw his eulogy broadcast on television.

Academics and journalism

After retiring from politics Rubinstein returned to academia. He regularly wrote opinion pieces for Israeli newspapers.

Rubinstein's scholarship was highly respected. His articles and books in the sphere of law in general, and especially Israeli law, enjoyed wide acclaim.[1] His collection A Single Voice (2002) outlined his "moderate, humanistic liberalism", according to a review in Haaretz.[1]

Death

Rubinstein died on 18 January 2024, at the age of 92.[5]

Awards

In 2006, Rubinstein won the Israel Prize, for law.[6][7][8] The Israel Prize award committee provided the following endorsement for its decision:

Amnon Rubinstein is "the founding father of Israeli constitutional law. In both his profound academic writings and his diverse public activities, he advances the values of democracy, equality and human rights. In the legal and public arena in Israel, there are few who can equal Prof. Amnon Rubinstein’s contribution to the State of Israel, as a public figure, a member of the legislative and executive branches of government, and as a brilliant researcher and legal expert."

Published works

  • Israel and the Family of Nations: The Jewish Nation State and Human Rights, 2008
  • The Constitutional Law of the State of Israel
  • Upholding morality
  • From Herzl to Rabin: The Changing Image of Zionism
  • Daat Yachid'
  • Jurisdiction and Illegality: A Study in Public Law
  • Absence of Government: How to Mend Israel's Broken System
  • Academic Flaws – Freedom and Responsibility in Israeli Higher Education
  • The Blanket
  • Route no. 5
  • The Sea Above Us
  • The Black Sun : Kotarim International Publishing
  • "The Curious Case of Jewish Democracy", Azure: Ideas for the Jewish Nation 41 (Summer 2010)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Sheffer, Gabi A good old-fashioned liberal, Haaretz, 4 January 2002
  2. ^ "Amnon Rubinstein, MK". Archived from the original on 18 August 2004.
  3. ^ "Former Minister, Father of Israeli Constitutional Law Amnon Rubinstein Dies at 92". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Trial Begins for Man Accused of Falsely Claiming MK's Death". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  5. ^ "השר לשעבר אמנון רובינשטיין הלך לעולמו בגיל 92". 13TV. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  6. ^ Stroke keeps legendary goalkeeper from Israel Prize fete Haaretz, 4 May 2006
  7. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site (in Hebrew) – Recipient's C.V."
  8. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site (in Hebrew) – Judges' Rationale for Grant to Recipient".

External links

  • Official website
  • Amnon Rubinstein on the Knesset website
  • The right to democracy, Fathom: For a deeper understanding of Israel and the region, 30 January 2013
  • Interview on Social justice, academica and political changes, June 26, 2014
  • Amnon Rubinstein at Jewish Virtual Library
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