Israel is a parliamentary democracy which consists of three branches: the legislature (the Knesset); the executive (the government); and the judiciary (the court system). It is based on the principle of separation of powers, with checks and balances built into the system. Oct 25, · The Israeli Courts and Legal System: A Brief Synopsis. The Israeli legal system is based in common law, which also incorporates facets of civil law. Israel does not have a formal Constitution. Laws enacted by the Knesset, particularly the Basic Laws of Israel, provide the framework of Israeli law. which is enriched by political and judicial precedent. The Judicial System. Influences traceable to the British Mandate period include parts of Ottoman legal codes, influenced by the Quran, Arab tribal customary laws, and the Napoleonic Code. In general, British law has provided the main base on which Israel has built its court .